Russian Arrested For Running Gay Travel Agency Found Dead in Cell

[C0RI0LANUS]

Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

A Russian man arrested in October for operating a travel agency for gay customers was found dead in his Moscow cell while in pretrial detention, the OVD-Info rights group said on 29 Dec. The group quoted the lawyer of Andrei Kotov (48) as saying the man had died by suicide in his cell, although the report cannot independently be confirmed.

Kotov was director of the Men Travel agency, and was facing charges of "organizing extremist activity and participating in it." Russia in recent years has intensified its relentless crackdown on LGBT rights, often accusing suspects of extremist activities.

Read more: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-lgbt-gay-travel-arrest-death/33257088.html

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The late Andrei Kotov in court (Photo: SOTA)

Authorities claim Kotov organized a New Year holiday trip to Egypt and a Volga River cruise centered around LGBTI+ themes.

Denying the charges, Kotov defended himself in court, stating that the tours were purely of a tourist nature and did not involve any ideological propaganda.

"The LGBTQ+ community in Russia has been under legal and public pressure for over a decade but especially since the Kremlin sent troops to Ukraine in 2022. Russian leader Vladimir Putin has argued that the war is a proxy battle with the West, which he says aims to destroy Russia and its “traditional family values” by pushing for LGBTQ+ rights."

Source:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/russian-man-arrested-for-allegedly-running-gay-travel-agency-dies-in-custody


Helmeted riot police detain LGBTQ+ rights activists during a St Petersburg march. (Getty)



One of Russia's most famous sons, the man who composed "Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker," was LGBTQ+.

[cstanleytech]

1. I wouldn't be surprised if he had some help committing it.

[bluedigger]

2. Good alternative to dying in Ukraine in a meat wave.

He knew where he was going after his trial and conviction. Honorable choice, if you ask me.

[yardwork]

6. I doubt very much that he committed suicide.

[Xipe Totec]

7. He jumped out of his prison cell window

He wiggled through the 3" gaps between the bars.

[yardwork]

9. And drank some plutonium tea on the way down.

[C0RI0LANUS]

3. Concur with comments. I guess the Russians could have press-ganged a chunky 48 year old man for meat attacks.

This harmless fellow who trying to bring a little bit of joy to miserable people in the new Stalinist Russia was just gobbled up like so many other victims who preceded him.

[Wonder Why]

4. Epstein committed "suicide" too.

[yardwork]

5. Too many Americans are in denial about Putin's Russia.

It is not a nice place.

[C0RI0LANUS]

8. The height of hypocrisy with these pro-Russian Americans (GOP equals Goons Of Putin)

Last edited Tue Dec 31, 2024, 12:40 AM - Edit history (1)

The Republican Party spent decades accusing Democrats of being soft on Russia.

[electric_blue68]

11. Hmmm...when I was a tween ('65) it was... "Better Dead Than Red"

[C0RI0LANUS]

12. Good catch! Fixed it.

[electric_blue68]

13. Ah, cool! 👍

[electric_blue68]

10. Awful news. Poor man. And the general harassement of the LGBTQUI Community in Ruzza

not to mention some places here, too.