Russian Arrested For Running Gay Travel Agency Found Dead in Cell
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

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
(27,499 posts)bluedigger
(17,218 posts)He knew where he was going after his trial and conviction. Honorable choice, if you ask me.
yardwork
(66,041 posts)Xipe Totec
(44,285 posts)He wiggled through the 3" gaps between the bars.
yardwork
(66,041 posts)C0RI0LANUS
(3,015 posts)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
(5,331 posts)yardwork
(66,041 posts)It is not a nice place.
C0RI0LANUS
(3,015 posts)Last edited Tue Dec 31, 2024, 01:40 AM - Edit history (1)
The Republican Party spent decades accusing Democrats of being soft on Russia.
electric_blue68
(20,603 posts)C0RI0LANUS
(3,015 posts)electric_blue68
(20,603 posts)electric_blue68
(20,603 posts)not to mention some places here, too.