Russian Publisher Fined and Sentenced Over LGBT-Themed Books in Major Finance Case
Overview of the Russian Court's Decision and Its Financial Implications
Background of the Case
MOSCOW, Aug 7 (Reuters) - A Russian court on Friday handed a publisher a four-year suspended prison sentence after convicting him of selling books whose content touched upon LGBT topics, a serious offence in Russia, the state TASS news agency reported.
Details of the Sentence and Fine
Dmitry Protopopov, the head of Popcorn Books, was also fined 8.7 million roubles ($105,135.95), TASS said. It said Protopopov had admitted his guilt and apologised to the court and to society.
Popcorn Books and Its Publications
Popcorn specialised in books for teenagers and young adults, some with LGBT characters or storylines. "Summer in a Pioneer's Tie", the story of two boys who fell in love at a Soviet summer camp, was initially a hit in Russia, selling over 200,000 copies in its first six months.
Context: Russia's Stance on LGBT Issues
With President Vladimir Putin seeking to promote an image of Russia as a guardian of traditional moral values in contrast to what he says is a decadent West, Moscow has banned what it calls the "LGBT movement", designating it as extremist and those supporting it as terrorists.
Impact on Private Companies
Private Russian companies including music channels, online film distributors and book publishers are routinely fined for hosting LGBT content.
Exchange Rate Information
($1 = 82.7500 roubles)
(Reporting by ReutersEditing by Andrew Osborn)
