Eksmo Probed Over LGBT Books: Russia's Crackdown on Publishers

0:00On April 22, one of Russia's biggest publishers, Exmo, just confirmed that its general director and three employees got pulled in for questioning. By authorities over possible LGBT propaganda in their book catalog, this stems from a criminal case open back in May of last year, tied to books from a company they bought called Popcorn Books. Russian investigators raided their Moscow offices Tuesday and media reports say some staff were detained. The case links to Popcorn, which Exmo acquired in 2023, but shut down this year. Popcorn put out teen books with LGBT characters, like one hit called Summer and a Pioneer's Tie about two boys falling in love at camp, it sold over two. Hundred thousand copies fast. Exmo says the probe is about dozens of those titles that went unaccounted for during the closure. Under Putin, Russia's cracking down hard on what they called the LGBT movement, labeling it extremist and even terrorist. Companies like music channels and film sites get fined all the time for similar content,

1:02as Moscow pushes traditional values against the West. Exmo denies any raids or book seizures happened, but admits the questioning. They're now using artificial intelligence to scan their massive three million title inventory from back to 1990 for ban stuff. It's unclear if those employees are formally detained law, says charges must come within 48 hours. Officers are getting spooked, with fears they'll avoid any book hinting at nontraditional themes, chilling the whole industry as this plays out. I'm Cory with the story, and you've been listening to entertainment and celebrity news today, AI-powered pop culture coverage.