The Russian ebook service Litres will remove all books that are at risk of falling under Moscow’s new ban on “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships” and is recommending that authors rewrite the books to make them eligible for the company’s store again.
“We suggest that authors whose books might include LGBT propaganda change their texts so that their work can be put back on the market after modifications and subsequent moderation,” Yevgeny Selivanov, the content development director for the Litres group of companies, told the news outlet RBC.
Litres has already asked copyright holders to check their works for “LGBT propaganda.” Additionally, the company has begun independently reviewing “books whose descriptions clearly mention LGBT in order to understand whether they pose a risk or not,” and has already made some books unavailable.
A Litres representative added that the number of books affected by the new law will not be more than 1 percent of the company’s catalog.
On December 5, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law imposing a total ban on “propaganda of non-traditional relationships” and pedophilia as well as the distribution of information about LGBT people and gender transitioning among people of any age.
Meduza survived 2024 thanks to its readers!
Let’s stick together for 2025.
The world is at a crossroads today, and quality journalism will help shape the decades to come. Real stories must be told at any cost. Please support Meduza by signing up for a recurring donation.