Russian police reportedly raided the country’s top publishing house, Eksmo, on Tuesday amid a months-long investigation into the company for allegedly violating laws banning LGBTQ+ “propaganda” and “extremism.”

While some reports say police took thousands of books, a statement from Eksmo to Reuters on Wednesday said no books were seized. The company did confirm that Eksmo general director Yevgeny Kapyev and three other employees were brought in for questioning.

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Russian publication Interfax confirmed Kapyev has been detained by Russian authorities.

Eksmo communications director Yekaterina Kozhanova reportedly told AFP News that two of those questioned were the deputy commercial director and the head of distribution.

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The publishing house also noted that the raid was due to a company called Popcorn Books, which Eksmo bought in 2023. In January 2026, Popcorn shut down after being targeted by the Russian government for allegedly disseminating LGBTQ+ “propaganda” to minors.

“The criminal case was opened in May 2025 and concerned several titles ​with characteristics of LGBT propaganda, published by Popcorn Books prior to its merger ​with Eksmo,” ⁠Eksmo told Reuters.

Popcorn Books launched in Moscow in 2018 and stated on its website that it was for 18+ readers. It described its books as “exciting fiction for young adults and adults that touches on topics which are still regarded as controversial in today’s Russia.”

“These are books about queer characters, self-identification, racism and sexism, mental health issues and more,” the site explains.

Under Russian law, so-called LGBTQ+ “propaganda” has been banned in the presence of minors since 2013. In late 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed legislation expanding the 2013 law to effectively outlaw any public expression of LGBTQ+ life in the country. And in 2023, Russia’s Supreme Court declared the “international LGBT social movement” an “extremist organization.”

In May of last year, the distribution director for Eksmo, Anatoly Norovyatkin, was detained by law enforcement officials, along with 10 other people associated with the company. Officials seized books from Popcorn and accused detainees of spreading LGBTQ+ “propaganda” in violation of Russian law. 

Three Popcorn Books managers were put under house arrest while being tried.

In another case, three Eksmo employees (including one who worked for Popcorn) were charged with using their official positions to organize extremist activity by publishing and selling LGBTQ+ content. One person, Individual Print publishing house executive director Dmitry Protopopov, was designated as a terrorist.

According to Novaya Gazeta Europe, Eksmo sent bookstores a list of books to pull from their shelves after Tuesday’s raid. Sources also told the publication that the government may have an ulterior motive to gain control of Eksmo’s assets.

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