Former Head of Popcorn Books Receives Four-Year Suspended Sentence in Russia for "LGBT Extremism"

On Friday, August 7, 2026, the Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow sentenced Dmitry Protopopov, the former head of the Russian publishing house Popcorn Books, to a four-year suspended prison term in a case concerning “LGBT extremism.” This was reported by the independent news outlet Mediazona from the courtroom.

The court agreed with the state prosecution, which had requested this exact penalty. According to investigators, Protopopov and his colleagues organized the sale of queer literature after the “international LGBT public movement” was designated as extremist in Russia, allegedly aiming to involve minors in the movement.

The case was heard under a special accelerated procedure. According to the source, Protopopov pleaded fully guilty, made a plea deal with investigators, and testified against other individuals involved, including the management of the Eksmo holding, which had acquired the publishing house. The court also ordered the confiscation of over 8.7 million rubles (approximately $90,000) as “criminal income” and banned him from publishing activities for four years.

Earlier, two other defendants in the same case—former Popcorn Books sales director Pavel Ivanov and warehouse manager Artyom Vakhlyaev—received similar suspended sentences. Both defendants also pleaded guilty and testified against their colleagues.