Andrea SannaRussian travel agent Andrey Kotov has been found dead in prison, where he was being held on charges of violating the anti-LGBTQIA law.
Travel agent Andrey Kotov – director of Men Travel – was arrested at the end of November after being accused by Russian authorities of participating in and organising activities for an “extremist community“, namely the LGBTQIA community.
Russia has had an anti-LGBTQIA law in place for years, and a recent ruling by the Russian Supreme Court equated the international LGBTQIA movement with an extremist organisation.
At the end of November, Russian authorities opened a criminal case against travel agent Andrey Kotov, who immediately denied all charges against him, but according to investigators, the man allegedly organised gay tours, including a boat trip on the Volga River and a trip to Egypt. Evidence that would confirm the act against the constitutional order and security of Russia.
Andrey Kotov then died in his cell on 29 December, according to investigators he took his own life at around 4am (local time).
However, many doubts remain about his death. This tragic episode shows how tight the Moscow government’s grip is on Russia’s LGBTQIA community.
