The Falanster bookstore was fined 800 thousand rubles for “LGBT propaganda” - Layout

Signs of “propaganda” were found in the book “Infernal Feminism” by Peter Faxneld and two other publications

The Tverskoy District Court of Moscow fined the independent bookstore “Phalanster” 800 thousand rubles for so-called “ LGBT propaganda ”. According to TASS, the corresponding signs, according to experts, were found in the book “Infernal Feminism” by Peter Faxneld and two other publications.

Fine to the director and threat of criminal proceedings

The court imposed a separate fine on Phalanster General Director Boris Kupriyanov - 100 thousand rubles. The reason was “participation in the activities of an undesirable organization.” This is the second protocol against Kupriyanov in a year. A criminal case may be initiated against the director.

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In court, the defense insisted that the statute of limitations in the case had expired, since the controversial books were withdrawn from sale back in March 2025. In addition, none of them are listed on the official register of prohibited literature. At the same time, the prosecutor’s office insisted that the countdown should begin from the date of the expert report—May 30. The court accepted this position.

“So that there are no complaints against me, I must read all 38 thousand books in the store. It will take 180 years,” Kupriyanov said ironically.

At the end of May, both the store itself and its director were already fined for collaborating with a recognized “undesirable organization.” The Telegram channel “Caution, News” then reported that the reason for the protocol was the sale of two books by Belarusian activist Igor Alinevich, published with the support of the Anarchist Black Cross Federation (ABCF) - it is recognized as “undesirable” in Russia.

In May, several publishing houses were searched in Russia - Individuum, Eksmo and Popcorn Books - in connection with extremism. The investigation claims that publishing houses distributed about a thousand copies of books that allegedly formulate “LGBT ideology.” “Layout” told how the book industry reacts to the publishers’ business - stores are recycling books from disloyal publishers, and self-censorship is growing in the publishing houses themselves.

Photo: “Phalanster” store website

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