Publishers worried new 'gay propaganda' bill could outlaw classic Russian literature

The Russian Book Union (RKC) recently sent a letter to Russian State Duma Deputy Alexander Khinshtein expressing concern that the parliament’s latest “LGBT propaganda” bill could render multiple works of classic Russian literature illegal to publish, Kommersant reported on Monday.

In the letter, the RKC says it’s received “many inquiries from publishers” regarding which books will be banned if the bill becomes law. They list a scene in Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s novel Devils that describes child sexual abuse, a monologue from Alexander Ostrovsky’s play The Storm that could be considered “suicide propaganda,” and an excerpt from Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel Morphine that could be considered “drug propaganda" as three examples of content that should ostensibly be prohibited under the prospective law.

Khinshtein himself reportedly told Kommersant that while he hasn’t read the letter from the RKC, he is confident that classic works of literature would not be subject to any new bans since the bill refers specifically to “propaganda,” which he defines as “information aimed at the formation of non-traditional sexual attitudes.”

The bill in question would broaden Russia's existing "gay propaganda" law by banning “the denial of family values” and “the promotion of non-traditional sexual orientations.” It's currently under consideration by the State Duma.

Happy birthday, Mr. President

On October 7, 2022, Vladimir Putin turned 70. To mark the occasion, Meduza spoke to sources close to the Russian government about how things are going for the president. Their accounts painted a picture of a Kremlin in serious crisis.