Book Publisher Individuum Shuts Down After LGBTQ+ ‘Extremism’ Trials
Individuum’s closure follows that of its former young-adult imprint Popcorn Books, which was shut down by Russia’s largest book publisher Eksmo in January.
Individuum, an LGBTQ+ focused book publisher established in 2015, has ceased operations after facing criminal charges labeled as “extremism.” Senior executives were tried and later convicted for these allegations. The publisher's editor-in-chief, Alexei Kiselyov, disclosed the decision as sudden but not unexpected. Individuum's remaining publications will be distributed via other printing houses.
This closure comes after the bankruptcy of its young-adult division, Popcorn Books, which was dismantled by Russia's leading book distributor, Eksmo, in January. Eksmo had taken a majority stake in both Imprints in 2023. In May 2025, several Eksmo personnel were arrested on charges of LGBTQ+ "propaganda" and "extremism". Following these arrests, three senior officials from Individuum and Popcorn Books were sentenced to four-year suspended sentences.
The charges were in response to Russia's prohibition on the "international LGBT movement" as an extremist entity. This trial was a result of Russia's ban on the LGBTQ+ movement as an extremist organization. Furthermore, the Justice Ministry recently classified Felix Sandalov, the former editor-in-chief of Individuum, as a "foreign agent".
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