Arrest of Exmo's High-Ranking Executive Over Alleged Extremist Activities

Title: Anatoly Norovyatkin, Eksmo's Distribution Chief, Locked Up in a Crackdown on Publishing Industry Over Alleged Extremism

People across the publishing world are buzzing about the arrest of Anatoly Norovyatkin, the long-time distribution director at Eksmo Publishing, Russia's biggest book company, and at least nine other publishing professionals in Moscow. The detentions, happening around May 14-15, 2025, seem to be part of a major crackdown on Russia’s publishing industry related to extremism charges linked to alleged "LGBTI propaganda" in books.

The case isn't just about Eksmo but also involves people associated with Popcorn Books LLC and Individuum, two publishing imprints acquired by Eksmo in 2023. Popcorn Books is well-known for publishing queer young adult fiction, while Individuum produces non-fiction titles. Among those detained besides Norovyatkin are Dmitry Protopopov, a manager connected with Popcorn Books and Individuum, and Pavel Ivanov, a former sales director. Reports suggest some of those detained are no longer employed by the companies involved.

The Kremlin is behind this campaign targeting LGBTI-related content, classified under extremism-related charges, although the precise nature of the charges remains unclear as no official information has been released yet. Lawyers were not able to contact the detainees until late in the evening, with the raids having taken place during daytime hours.

Following these events, Eksmo has issued a list to trading partners of books deemed to contain “LGBT propaganda” that must be withdrawn from sale or destroyed, hinting at increased censorship pressures on the publishing industry.

Eksmo is a powerhouse in the Russian publishing scene, releasing thousands of titles annually (over 8,600 in 2023), and boasts significant market influence; the acquisition of Popcorn Books and Individuum forms part of an ongoing effort to diversify the company's catalog, now threatened due to the crackdown.

In essence, Norovyatkin, along with several other publishing figures linked to Eksmo, Popcorn Books, and Individuum, have been detained in a Kremlin-led extremism investigation connected with anti-LGBTI censorship efforts. The specific charges and further legal developments in this case remain to be seen.

The arrest of Anatoly Norovyatkin, who is the distribution chief at Eksmo Publishing, a significant player in Russia's business scene, is creating a stir in the realm of general-news, for his arrest is part of a larger crackdown on Russia’s publishing industry, alleged for their links to extremism related to LGBTI propaganda in books.
The detentions, happening around May 14-15, 2025, involve not only Eksmo's employees but also professionals associated with Popcorn Books LLC and Individuum, two publishing imprints acquired by Eksmo in 2023, which have been running businesses in the fields of crime-and-justice (through the investigation of these charges) as well as arts and culture (through their publishing of queer young adult fiction and non-fiction titles).
The ongoing investigation in the realm of politics is shedding light on increased censorship pressures on the Russian publishing industry, as Eksmo has issued a list of books deemed to contain “LGBT propaganda,” instructing trading partners to either withdraw these titles from sale or face the consequences of continued distribution, threatening the future of the industry's diversity and business deals.