A Russian man accused of operating a travel agency catering to gay customers was found dead in pretrial detention in Moscow, sparking outrage and concern among human rights advocates.
Andrei Kotov, the director of “Men Travel,” was arrested on charges of “organizing extremist activity and participating in it,” according to rights group OVD-Info. Authorities reported his death on Sunday, claiming he died by suicide in his cell. However, Kotov’s lawyer disclosed that he had previously accused law enforcement officers of beating him and using electric shocks during his arrest, despite offering no resistance.
Kotov had vehemently denied the charges against him, which many critics view as part of Russia’s broader crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights. This comes in the wake of a 2022 Supreme Court ruling that labeled the “international LGBT movement” as extremist, criminalizing LGBTQ+ activism and exposing individuals to severe legal consequences.
The LGBTQ+ community in Russia has faced intensifying oppression over the past decade, with measures escalating since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. President Vladimir Putin has framed LGBTQ+ rights as a Western attack on Russia’s “traditional family values,” further entrenching discrimination and state-led persecution.
Recent legislation has added to the hostile environment. Laws now ban LGBTQ+ “propaganda” for adults and minors and prohibit adoption of Russian children by individuals in countries where gender transitioning is legal.
Kotov’s death underscores the dire state of LGBTQ+ rights in Russia and the risks faced by those who advocate for or provide services to the community. Advocates are calling for an independent investigation into his death and broader accountability for human rights abuses in the country.
