Moscow Court Convicts Deceased Tour Organizer for LGBTQ+ Activities Posthumously Amid Controversy Surrounding Police Custody Death

A Moscow court has posthumously convicted the owner of a travel agency for orchestrating extremist activities associated with the banned «LGBT movement,» nearly a year after his death in police custody, as reported by the independent outlet Mediazona on Friday.

Authorities claimed that Andrei Kotov, who operated the Men Travel agency, died by suicide in late December 2024.

During the proceedings, Kotov alleged that police had subjected him to beatings and electric shocks with a stun gun during his arrest in November 2024. Human rights organizations stated that he had been denied necessary medication and adequate clothing while incarcerated.

On Friday, the Golovinsky District Court in Moscow found Kotov guilty of both participating in and organizing the activities of an «extremist organization,» as well as of involving minors in the distribution of pornography. According to Mediazona, the pornography charge was added to the indictment later on.

The trial has been conducted behind closed doors since June and was officially closed after the verdict due to Kotov’s death, as reported by Mediazona.

In late 2023, Russia’s Supreme Court designated the so-called «international LGBT movement» as an extremist organization, effectively criminalizing any public expressions of LGBTQ+ identities and advocacy.

News reports indicated that Kotov had organized trips for LGBTQ+ clients, including a proposed New Year’s tour to Egypt and a previous cruise on the Volga River.

Kotov denied the accusations, asserting that the tours he arranged were standard commercial endeavors.

Several witnesses did not show up in court or gave inconsistent testimonies, according to the independent Telegram news channel Mozhem Obyasnit.

It was reported that law enforcement had instructed one prosecution witness to attend Kotov’s tour to gather evidence for the case, as recounted by an anonymous lawyer with knowledge of the situation. This witness was unable to provide clear evidence during the court proceedings.