Individuum publishing house in Russia announces closure — The Moscow Times

As The Moscow Times reports, the Russian publishing house Individuum has announced it is ceasing operations following the criminal prosecution of its executives on charges of so-called LGBTQ+ “extremism.”

Publisher’s statement

Editor-in-chief Alexei Kiselyov said that the publishing house, founded in 2015, will cease to exist 11 years after its founding. He did not specify the reasons for the decision, calling the closure sudden but not unexpected.

Kiselyov also said that books Individuum had been working on in recent months will be published by other publishing houses.

Cases against employees

In January, Russia’s largest publisher, Eksmo, shut down Popcorn Books, Individuum’s former youth imprint. In 2023, Eksmo acquired controlling stakes in Popcorn Books and Individuum.

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In May 2025, several Eksmo employees were arrested on charges of LGBTQ+ “propaganda” and “extremism.” After that, Eksmo apparently began distancing itself from both imprints, according to the publication.

Sentences and editor’s status

This summer, three executives of Individuum and Popcorn Books were given four-year suspended sentences after being found guilty of LGBTQ+ “extremism.” The charges are linked to Russia’s ban on the so-called international LGBT movement as an extremist organization.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, an aggressor state, added former Individuum editor-in-chief Felix Sandalov to the register of “foreign agents.”