July 17, 2024

Roskomnadzor Casts Vanishing Spell on Fanfics


Roskomnadzor Casts Vanishing Spell on Fanfics
Wonders of the internet. Wesson Wang, Wikimedia Commons.

On July 12, Roskomnadzor, the federal agency supervising communications in Russia, limited access to the largest Russian-language site for fan fiction, Ficbook. Officials said the website violated "LGBT propaganda" laws.

Fanfics are spin-off texts of famous fiction works, written by amateur writers for other fans. They are published on the internet without the approval or oversight of the publishing industry. The texts' subjects can range from erotica to famous characters' stories infused with fans' personal experiences.

The Russian fanfic platforms such as Ficbook and fanfics.me have amassed millions of passionate readers. Publishers noticed fanfics' popularity, printing works such as Yekaterina Silvanova and Yelena Malisova's "Summer in a Pioneer Tie" and selling over 220,000 copies. 

In December 2022, Russia passed a law banning "LGBT Propaganda." Ficbook announced it would create a separate page for content with same-sex relationships called Slashbook. In November 2023, the Supreme Court banned the "international public movement of LGBT people" and declared queer Russians an "extremist organization."

This year, Roskomnadzor began inspecting the internet for "LGBT content." The government organization investigated the language-learning app Duolingo in April. In May, Roskomnadzor removed the game Romance Club from the App Store and Google Play.

On July 9, Roskomnadzor ordered Ficbook's site Kniga Fanfikov (Book of Fanfics) to remove "information that promoted 'non-traditional sexual relationships.'" The federal agency said the site was moving around LGBT content to other pages instead of deleting the material. Roskomnadzor threatened to block Ficbook on the territory of the Russian Federation. On July 12, the fanfic site was not accessible in Russia.

On July 13, Ficbook launched the campaign #VerniteFicbook (Return Ficbook) on Telegram, asking readers to share videos and texts explaining why the site mattered to them. In its statement, Ficbook wrote, "Fanfiction is not just a hobby, but an important part of life and culture."

You Might Also Like

Fulbright Foreign Agents?
  • June 20, 2024

Fulbright Foreign Agents?

Now that Fulbright has been declared an "undesirable organization," what will happen with its current and former Russian researchers?
The Post that Angered a City
  • June 04, 2024

The Post that Angered a City

The wife of a Novosibirsk legislator mocked the city on Instagram, leading to questions about her lifestyle.
  • February 06, 2024

"I'm Alive" a Harrowing Escape

A gay Chechen man forced to out himself on camera vanished after the video went viral in 2022. Now, he tells his story.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.
Fearful Majesty

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.
The Moscow Eccentric

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.
Tolstoy Bilingual

Tolstoy Bilingual

This compact, yet surprisingly broad look at the life and work of Tolstoy spans from one of his earliest stories to one of his last, looking at works that made him famous and others that made him notorious. 
Steppe / Степь (bilingual)

Steppe / Степь (bilingual)

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.
At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.
Turgenev Bilingual

Turgenev Bilingual

A sampling of Ivan Turgenev's masterful short stories, plays, novellas and novels. Bilingual, with English and accented Russian texts running side by side on adjoining pages.
93 Untranslatable Russian Words

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.
Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

This astonishingly gripping autobiography by the founder of the Russian Women’s Death Battallion in World War I is an eye-opening documentary of life before, during and after the Bolshevik Revolution.
Okudzhava Bilingual

Okudzhava Bilingual

Poems, songs and autobiographical sketches by Bulat Okudzhava, the king of the Russian bards. 

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955