Moscow Court Rules Against Deceased Travel Agency Owner Accused of LGBTQ+ Extremism Nearly a Year After Tragic Death in Custody

A court in Moscow has posthumously convicted a travel agency owner for organizing extremist activities associated with the outlawed “LGBT movement” nearly a year after his death in police custody, as reported by the independent media outlet Mediazona on Friday.

According to state investigators, Andrei Kotov, who was the head of the Men Travel agency, died by suicide in late December 2024.

Kotov had previously testified in court that he was subjected to beatings and electric shocks from a stun gun during his arrest in November 2024. Human rights organizations alleged that he was deprived of medication and proper clothing while in detention.

On Friday, the Golovinsky District Court in Moscow ruled that Kotov was guilty of organizing and participating in the activities of an «extremist organization» and for involving minors in the distribution of pornography. Mediazona reported that the pornography charge was added to the indictment at a later stage.

The proceedings have been conducted in secrecy since June and were officially concluded following the verdict due to Kotov’s death, as stated by Mediazona.

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

Media reports indicated that Kotov had organized trips for LGBTQ+ clients, including a New Year’s tour to Egypt and previous cruises along the Volga River.

Kotov maintained his innocence, asserting that the trips he organized were simply regular commercial excursions.

A number of witnesses either did not show up in court or provided inconsistent statements, according to the independent Telegram news channel Mozhem Obyasnit.

Law enforcement had instructed one prosecution witness to participate in Kotov’s tour to gather information for the case, an anonymous lawyer familiar with the situation disclosed to the outlet. This witness reportedly failed to present conclusive evidence during the trial.