Andrei Kotov, director of the tour operator Men Travel (left), was prosecuted for “extremist activities” (all LGBT “propaganda” is illegal in Russia). Here, during a hearing in Moscow, December 2, 2024. On December 29, he was found dead in his cell. BULKIN SERIES/BAS/USA BAGS/BAS / BULKIN SERIES/BAS/USA BAGS/BAS
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A Russian detained for organizing trips for LGBT+ people was found dead in pre-trial detention, a rights group and Russian state media reported this Sunday, December 29.
Andrei Kotov, director of the travel agency Men Travel, was indicted last month for “extremist activities”while the Russian Supreme Court banned at the end of 2023 what it describes as “international LGBT movement”opening the way to the possibility of legal action against those accused of adhering to it.
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According to the human rights NGO OVD-Info, which cites Andreï Kotov’s lawyer, investigators affirmed that the latter committed suicide this Sunday at dawn, during his pre-trial detention.
A fight against the “decadent” West
According to this organization, Andreï Kotov, aged 40, said he was beaten during his arrest last month.
Russian state news agency RIA Novosti also reported that Andrei Kotov committed suicide in prison.
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Russia has increased repressive laws against LGBT people in recent years, seeing in this ultraconservative line a continuation of their fight against the West, whose values and way of life are described as “decadent” by President Vladimir Putin.
By Le Nouvel Obs with AFP
Canada
