On August 7, 2026, Moscow’s Zamoskvoretsky District Court put an end to one of the loudest trials of recent years — “the publishers’ case”.Former Popcorn Books publisher Dmitry Protopopov was sentenced to four years’ suspended imprisonment.He, like his colleagues before him, was found guilty of participating in the activities of an “extremist organization” — that is how the Russian authorities now refer to the nonexistent “international LGBT movement.”
Let’s break down how a major youth publishing project turned into a criminal case, and what it means for those who continue to read and keep queer books.
Table of Contents
What happened?
Dmitry Protopopov became the third and final defendant in the case against employees of Popcorn Books and Individuum to receive a sentence. In addition to the four-year suspended sentence, the court imposed a five-year probation period on him, was banned from engaging in publishing activities for four years and from managing websites, and also ordered to confiscate more than 8.7 million rubles in favor of the state.
Previously, similar sentences were handed down to sales director Pavel Ivanov and warehouse manager Artem Vakhlyaev. All three admitted guilt and struck a plea deal with the investigators, which is why their cases were considered in a special proceeding.
What exactly were they accused of?
Law enforcement officials say that after the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation recognized the "LGBT movement" as extremist in November 2023, the publishers did not destroy the runs of the "banned books" but instead set up a hidden sales network.
According to the investigators, the publishing house had an internal classification:
- "Red List" — books where queer themes are central (for example, the bestseller "Summer in a Pioneer Neckerchief");
- "Yellow List" — works where the theme is only mentioned in passing.
The Investigative Committee says that more than a thousand copies were sold unofficially, including through Avito. To support the charge, law enforcement carried out “test purchases,” in which underage girls were used as buyers.
Why Popcorn Books, exactly?
The publisher, which appeared in 2018, became the voice of an entire generation. Their main hit — "Summer in a Pioneer Neckerchief" by Elena Malisova and Katerina Silvanova — sold more than 200,000 copies in its first six months and became the best-selling work of fiction in Russia in 2022.
The story of the love between pioneer Yura and camp counselor Volodya in a Soviet summer camp in 1986 outraged conservative politicians. The authors of the book received threats and left the country, and the publisher itself became the first in Russia to be charged with “LGBT propaganda” even before that law was expanded to apply to adults. In January 2026, Popcorn Books officially announced its closure.
Who else is under fire?
During the proceedings, the defendants testified against the management of the country’s largest publishing holding — "Eksmo-AST" (в 2023 году «Эксмо» выкупило 51% акций Popcorn Books).
In April 2026, Eksmo CEO Yevgeny Kapyev and other top managers were brought in for questioning by the Investigative Committee. According to the convicted employees’ account, the holding’s management allegedly knew about the “shadow accounting” and gave verbal instructions to keep sales going. The top managers still remain witnesses, but experts call this case “a black day for the entire industry.”
Is it now dangerous to keep such books at home?
Lawyers emphasize: despite the absurdity and cruelty of the "book publishers' case", laws prohibiting merely reading or possessing queer literature do not exist in Russia.
- To possess and read — It is possible. There is no obligation to keep the book on the shelf.
- To lend to friends — theoretically safe, since the authorities are currently pursuing only "mass distribution" and commercial activity.
- To sell on marketplaces — now extremely risky, since it may be classified as "organizing the activities of an extremist organization."
As of today, not a single Popcorn Books title has been officially added to the Russian Ministry of Justice’s list of “extremist materials,” although publishers across the country have already begun mass “disposing” of print runs (48 titles were listed for destruction by Eksmo).
What does this mean for us? The publishing market in Russia has finally descended into total self-censorship. Books with queer protagonists are either disappearing or coming out with "blacked-out" pages. However, we are confident that readers will find a way to access the books despite any bans.
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