**Russian Book Distributor Orders Removal of Books with “Non-Compliant” Content**
In a worrying example of censorship, a Russian book distributor has instructed shops to remove or destroy books by prominent authors, including Pulitzer Prize-winner Jeffery Eugenides and British bestseller Bridget Collins. The move comes amid growing concerns about the Kremlin’s increasing control over Russia’s literary scene.
Trading House BMM sent a letter to bookshops this week, listing 37 titles that should be immediately removed from sale. The list included works by Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Zizek, Japanese novelist Ryu Murakami, and several Russian writers. The books in question feature themes that are critical of war, LGBTQ issues, or Russia’s leadership.
The distributor warned bookshops that failing to comply with the order would result in “adverse consequences.” However, the letter did not provide any further details about what specifically made these books a threat. It simply stated that they “do not comply with Russian laws.”
**An Eclectic Mix of Banned Books**
The targeted books are an eclectic mix of genres and themes. Bridget Collins’ The Binding, for example, is a romance novel about an apprentice bookbinder. Another listed title, Lisi Harrison’s The Dirty Book Club, is a romance novel that explores the lives of several women in their 40s.
**Growing Censorship in Russia**
This latest move by BMM follows a pattern of censorship in Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Books featuring anti-war sentiment, LGBTQ themes, and criticism of Russia’s leadership have been targeted by authorities. In 2013, Russia banned the promotion of “non-traditional sexual orientations” to minors, but has since expanded this law to forbid “LGBT propaganda” among people of all ages.
The move is seen as part of a broader crackdown on dissenting voices in Russia. Earlier this month, two publishers were placed under house arrest for publishing books with LGBTQ themes. The authors of one such book, A Summer in the Red Scarf, have since left Russia due to the backlash against them.
**Commentary and Analysis**
This latest example of censorship highlights the growing concerns about freedom of expression in Russia. By targeting a wide range of genres and themes, BMM’s letter suggests that the Kremlin is becoming increasingly intolerant of any dissenting voices.
As one bookshop employee noted, “It’s a sign of the moral panic that has overtaken the market.” The fact that books by prominent authors like Eugenides and Collins have been targeted suggests that no one is immune to this censorship.
The move also underscores the growing divide between Russia and the rest of the world on issues of LGBTQ rights. By labeling what it calls the “international LGBT movement” an “extremist organisation,” Moscow is sending a clear message that it will not tolerate any dissenting voices on this issue.
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