The bookshop Falanster has been fined 800,000 rubles (approx. US$8,900), and its general director Boris Kupriyanov 100,000 rubles (approx. US$1,100) under the article on so-called “LGBTQ propaganda” (part 1, article 6.21 of the Code of Administrative Offences). This was reported by Mediazona.
In late May, the court had already issued fines to both the shop and Kupriyanov on charges related to an “undesirable organisation.” At that time, Falanster was fined 80,000 rubles (approx. US$900), and its co-founder received a fine of 40,000 rubles (approx. US$450). The reason was a book by Belarusian anarchist and political prisoner Igor Olinevich about being held in the KGB detention centre in Minsk. Russian law enforcement decided the book had been published with the support of the “Anarchist Black Cross Federation,” which is considered an “undesirable organisation” in Russia.
We originally wrote that Kupriyanov was fined under the article for participating in the activities of an undesirable organisation (article 20.33 of the Code of Administrative Offences), based on information from the “Word to the Defence” channel. This article is also listed in the case summary. However, it is clear from the published decision that Kupriyanov was found guilty specifically of ‘LGBTQ propaganda.’ We apologise for the error.
Asya Sokolova for OVD-Info
The adoption of the “LGBT propaganda” law marked not only widespread censorship but also intensified repression against LGBTQ people and the organisations that support them. With the designation of the “International LGBT Movement” as an “extremist organisation,” this pressure has increased once again.
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