Andrey Kotov, the director of Men Travel, a Russian travel agency catering to queer clients, has been added to Russia’s list of terrorists and extremists by the financial watchdog Rosfinmonitoring.
Kotov, who has denied the charges against him, was remanded in custody on 2 December on allegations of participating in and organising the activities of an “extremist community.”
The accusations against Kotov stem from his organisation of gay tours through Men Travel, a service he has operated for years. His detention follows a broader crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights in Russia, particularly after the Supreme Court declared the “international LGBT movement” an extremist organisation in November 2023. This ruling effectively criminalised queer identity and expression within the country.
Footage from a late-night police raid on Kotov’s home shows him visibly distressed and being questioned aggressively by law enforcement. Investigators claim they found evidence on Kotov’s phone implicating him in activities they described as “directed against the constitutional order and security of the state.”
While in pretrial detention, Kotov was reportedly moved to solitary confinement for undisclosed reasons. However, the situation took a darker turn on Friday when pro-Kremlin Telegram channel SHOT alleged that Kotov was facing a second criminal case. The new charges accuse him of engaging a minor in the production of pornographic materials, purportedly based on footage found in his belongings. The footage is said to show a minor in a gym dressing room. If convicted, Kotov could face a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
The charges and detention have drawn criticism from human rights advocates, who view the accusations as part of a larger campaign targeting LGBTQ+ individuals in Russia. Kotov’s case highlights the risks faced by queer individuals and activists under increasingly repressive laws.
