In a significant legal development, a Moscow court has imposed fines totaling 900,000 rubles (about $11,300) on the Falalster bookstore and its founder, Boris Kupriyanov, for purportedly engaging in "LGBTQA+ propaganda" by selling certain books deemed controversial by authorities. This action underscores the ongoing crackdown on materials considered "undesirable" by the Russian government.

The fines were levied after the bookstore was found selling titles including "More Happy Than Not" by Adam Silvera, "Satanic Feminism" by Per Faxneld, "Fruit of Knowledge" by Liv Strömquist, "The Miseducation of Cameron Post" by Emily M. Danforth, and "Fence: Volume Two" by C.S. Pacat. The court ruled that these books promote "non-traditional relationships and sex change," leading to the hefty penalties.

Kupriyanov, defending his position, asserted that none of the books in question are officially banned or listed as extremist. He challenged the court's decision, pointing out discrepancies in the expert analysis used during the trial and criticized the lack of transparency and procedural fairness in the judicial process. He humorously suggested that the expert should examine all 38,000 books in his store to ensure consistency in their logic.

This is not the first time Falalster and Kupriyanov have faced legal challenges. Earlier this year, they were fined for selling "On the Way to Magadan" by Belarusian anarchist Ihar Alinevich, a book mistakenly marked as "undesirable" a year after its publication.

The recent case against Falalster is part of a broader trend in Russia, where the sale of books that allegedly contain "LGBTQA+ propaganda" has led to multiple legal actions against bookstores and publishers. Just earlier this month, another Saint Petersburg bookstore, Подписные издания (Subscription Editions), faced similar charges and fines. Additionally, employees from major publishing houses such as Eksmo and Popcorn Books were arrested in a related crackdown.

These legal battles highlight the increasingly precarious situation for booksellers in Russia, as the state intensifies its scrutiny over literary content, particularly regarding themes of gender and sexuality. The international community and free speech advocates continue to watch these developments closely, concerned about the implications for cultural expression and human rights in Russia.