May 29, 2026

Teen Accused of LGBT Propaganda


Teen Accused of LGBT Propaganda
An empty classroom in Russia. The Russian Life file.

On May 22, independent outlet Mediazona reported that police had pressed charges against a thirteen-year-old boy for spreading "LGBT Propaganda" and exhibiting extremist symbols. According to the newspaper, his friends' parents reported him to the police.

The boy, whose name and location have been withheld to protect his identity, is known for his academic excellence. He took part in academic Olympics and won multiple prizes. He is now registered as a juvenile delinquent.

According to the child's lawyer, he showed a meme or a video to his friends or their parents, who later reported him to the police. His legal counsel said, "He wasn't trying to disseminate propaganda. He doesn't know what it is." The lawyer said the kid's hormones "activated" and he meant to show the image as a joke, but "the boy did not think of the consequences, and our legal system acted too quickly."

The age of criminal responsibility in Russia is 16, so the child is not facing prison time. However, the Juvenile Affairs Commission has deemed him eligible for "rehabilitation." Authorities are still evaluating whether to send him to a specialized school for juvenile offenders.

The lawyer told Mediazona, "Kids can connect to the internet, discover [something], and show it to an adult. And authorities consider this to be some form of propaganda." The mother of the boy confirmed the ongoing investigation against her son, but refused to give details because the information was "classified."

You Might Also Like

Debt is Dangerous
  • May 23, 2026

Debt is Dangerous

On the dangerous growth of Russia's debt collection agencies.
12 Years for Hating War
  • May 26, 2026

12 Years for Hating War

Anna Arkhipova has been sentenced to 12 years for hating war and saying so publicly.
Feeling the Burn
  • May 19, 2026

Feeling the Burn

Spring burns of Russian fields are both common and tragic.
A Presidential Rideshare
  • May 21, 2026

A Presidential Rideshare

  After Victory Day, President Putin made time to take a PR spin with an old teacher.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

Bears in the Caviar
May 01, 2015

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

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.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, 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