LGBTQ Agency Found Dead

A Russian man, Andrei Kotov, who was arrested for allegedly operating a travel agency catering to gay clients, was found dead in his pretrial detention cell in Moscow, according to rights group OVD-Info.

Authorities claimed Kotov died by suicide early Sunday, though his lawyer reported earlier allegations of physical abuse, including beatings and electric shocks, during his arrest.

Kotov had denied the charges of “organizing and participating in extremist activity,” which came amid a heightened crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights in Russia.

This follows a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that classified the LGBTQ+ movement as extremist, criminalizing activism and fostering fear within the community.

The pressure on LGBTQ+ individuals has intensified in recent years, with Russian President Vladimir Putin framing LGBTQ+ rights as a Western attack on Russia’s "traditional family values."