Moscow Court Bans Pirated Translation of Queer Novel 'Mafia Target'

A district court in Moscow has declared an amateur translation of the novel ‘Mafia Target’ by author Mila Finelli as prohibited information, following a request from the prosecutor’s office. The decision restricts the distribution of the text within Russia.

The book tells the story of a romantic relationship between the former heir of an Italian mafia empire and a man hired to assassinate him. According to the synopsis on the author’s official website, the novel describes the mutual attraction between two men amidst criminal conflicts.

Mila Finelli’s works are not officially published in Russian, so the court’s ruling applies exclusively to illegal copies published online by enthusiasts. Russia has legislation restricting the distribution of materials deemed as “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations,” under which courts regularly block access to such fiction on the internet.