Former Popcorn Books director given a four-year suspended sentence. This is the final verdict in the so-called “book publishers’ case.”

Dmitry Protopopov, head of the Popcorn Books editorial team, was given a four-year suspended sentence in a case over the sale of “LGBT literature.” This was reported by Mediazona.

Protopopov also had more than 8.7 million roubles (approx. US$95,000) in “criminal proceeds” confiscated. This is exactly the punishment sought by the prosecution.

Protopopov pleaded guilty and gave evidence against other defendants. His case was considered under a special procedure.

The ‘book publishers’ case’

Dmitry Protopopov and two of his colleagues—Pavel Ivanov and Artyom Vakhlyaev—were detained in May 2025, placed under house arrest, and a year later were released with restrictions on certain activities.

They were accused of distributing LGBT literature—in particular, the novel “Summer in a Pioneer Tie” by Elena Malisova and Katerina Silvanova.

Pavel Ivanov and Artyom Vakhlyaev were also given suspended sentences—they too admitted guilt and gave evidence against other defendants in the case.