The governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region, Gleb Nikitin, described the publication of a list of confiscated books allegedly containing LGBT propaganda as a provocation. The document, which labels the International LGBT Movement as extremist and bans its activities, was discussed by the governor on his Telegram channel.
According to Nikitin, the list includes works by renowned authors such as Dostoyevsky and Plato. He stated that he could not stay silent after reviewing the list and that his feelings urged him to speak out.
The regional leader questioned the criteria used to compile the list. He noted that there is no clear explanation of how the materials were distributed or what motives motivated the creator of the idea. He suggested that the intention might be to harm the country and undermine public institutions, while expressing hope that the list would be evaluated properly by the public.
In November 2023 the Supreme Court, following a request from the Russian Ministry of Justice, declared the international movement described as LGBT activists as an extremist organization and banned its activities across the country. Russia had already enacted a law banning LGBT propaganda among citizens of all ages, which came into force in December 2022.
On February 20, 2024, online reports surfaced about a list of books said to contain LGBT propaganda that are forbidden for sale. The compilation encompassed more than 250 works, including titles by Dostoyevsky, Murakami, Coelho, Wilde, and Proust among others. Megamarket confirmed the list’s authenticity and stated that it had already removed the corresponding book cards from its site. Deputy Alexander Khinshtein, who supported the law banning LGBT propaganda, described the blacklist as unnecessary and argued that the works listed posed no danger.
Earlier remarks by the Russian president touched on attitudes toward LGBT people within the country, reflecting a continuing public and political discourse on this issue.