Eksmo chief executive questioned in Russia extremism case tied to LGBTQ-themed books
The Facts
- Yevgeny Kapiev, the chief executive of Eksmo, was taken in for questioning by Russian investigators on April 21.
- Several other Eksmo employees were also questioned along with Kapiev.
- The questioning was linked to a criminal extremism case involving books from Popcorn Books.
- Multiple reports said law enforcement carried out searches or other investigative actions connected to Eksmo.
- Eksmo said the case was opened in May 2025.
- Russian authorities and state-linked media tied the case to books described as containing LGBTQ themes or so-called LGBT propaganda.
- Eksmo had previously been fined 900,000 rubles in December 2023 under Russia's law against so-called LGBT propaganda.
Context
What is the investigation about?
Eksmo said the questioning is part of an extremism case tied to the distribution of books from Popcorn Books, and several reports said investigators linked it to titles with LGBTQ themes Аргументы и…,РИА Новости,Коммерсант.….
Were searches carried out at Eksmo?
Several outlets reported searches or other investigative actions connected to Eksmo and its offices, but the publisher said no investigative actions were conducted in its office kp.ru,Коммерсант.…,BBC,Коммерсант.….
Is this a new case?
No. Eksmo said the criminal case was opened in May 2025, and the publisher had already been fined in December 2023 under Russia's administrative law on so-called LGBT propaganda РИА Новости,kp.ru,kp.ru.
How left and right read it
Russian investigators taking in Eksmo chief executive Yevgeny Kapiev and several employees for questioning shows how far the state is pushing a criminal extremism case tied to books with LGBTQ themes. Coming after a case opened in May 2025 and a 900,000-ruble fine in 2023 under the so-called LGBT propaganda law, it signals escalating pressure on publishers and cultural expression.
The questioning of Eksmo chief executive Yevgeny Kapiev and other employees underscores that Russian authorities are treating books with LGBTQ themes as part of a broader extremism investigation, not just a regulatory dispute. With the case opened in May 2025 and Eksmo already fined in 2023 under the so-called LGBT propaganda law, publishers are operating under a tightening and increasingly punitive legal environment.
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