Andrei Kotov, the director of the travel agency Men Travel, has died in pre-trial detention in Russia after being arrested for organizing tours aimed at LGBTQ individuals. Kotov, 40, was detained last month and charged with participating in and organizing “extremist” activities under Russia’s stringent laws targeting groups that challenge the government’s stance on “traditional values.”
According to the OVD-Info rights group, Kotov’s lawyer reported that investigators informed her of his death by suicide early Sunday morning. The Russian state news agency RIA Novosti also confirmed his passing, stating that he had taken his own life while in custody.
Kotov’s arrest occurred amid a broader crackdown on the LGBTQ community in Russia, where authorities have increasingly labeled LGBTQ advocacy as extremist. This intensified repression aligns with Russia’s wider efforts to suppress dissent, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Just this year, the Russian government formally added the “LGBT movement” to its list of banned extremist groups, further tightening restrictions on LGBTQ rights.
Reports from OVD-Info indicate that Kotov had been beaten during his arrest, and state media had previously broadcast a video showing him being questioned by security forces while lying on the ground.
Kotov’s death underscores the dangers faced by activists in Russia, where LGBTQ individuals continue to experience significant persecution. Rights organizations have condemned his detention and death, while also raising alarm about the broader climate of intolerance facing marginalized communities in the country.
