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The Russian Ministry of Culture did not issue any ban lists for library books, according to TASS quoting the agency.

The ministry clarified that no lists were forwarded to libraries. The clarification came after earlier reports suggested that authorities had targeted specific titles for removal from shelves.

Earlier notices had circulated following remarks by Alexander Khinshtein, the chairman of the State Duma Information Policy Committee, who criticized the Ozone marketplace over content concerns. Reports indicated that books deemed to contain LGBT propaganda were pulled from sale.

In particular, the novel Summer with a Pioneer Tie, authored by Elena Malisova and Ekaterina Silvanova, was said to have been withdrawn from retail channels. Ozon’s press service responded by stating that the company complies with the law on the sale of prohibited goods. After a new law mandated blocking cards for books with LGBT propaganda, Ozon noted that such products began to be hidden from potential buyers. [Cited: Ozon press office, reaction to Khinshtein] [Source: TASS]

On December 5, 2022, President Vladimir Putin signed a package of laws that expands prohibitions to include LGBT propaganda, pedophilia, and gender reassignment materials. The legislation marked a broadening of regulatory measures affecting public discourse and published content across various platforms. Analysts observed that the changes align with formal government priorities regarding family formation and social norms, prompting ongoing discussion about censorship, freedom of information, and the role of digital marketplaces in enforcing compliance. [Cited: Russian presidential decree actions] [Source: TASS]