Summary

Andrei Kotov, a Russian travel agency director accused of organizing LGBTQ+ tours, died in pre-trial detention in Moscow.

Authorities claim his death was a suicide, but rights groups highlight previous reports of beatings and abuse during his arrest.

Kotov was charged with “extremist activities” after Russia banned the LGBTQ+ movement as extremist in 2023, intensifying its crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights.

He denied organizing specific LGBTQ+ events, calling them ordinary tours.

His death has raised concerns about the treatment of detainees and the broader suppression of dissent in Russia.

    • @chronicledmonocle
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      727 days ago

      No. This is a BS “both sides” type argument.

      There are other terror states. Iran, China, Russia, Afghanistan, and many more, but there are many countries that focus on freedom and democratic values. Some might be slipping into tyrannical government’s slowly (looking at you US of A), but even those are nowhere near the levels Russia is.

        • The Quuuuuill
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          15 days ago

          i would categorize a terror state as being a state (naion, country, or empire) in which terrorism is a regular fact of life that is either tolerated or implemented by the official wielders of power. on some level, i do actually agree that every state is a terrorist state, but given that, the term loses value, so instead, i prefer to think of the term as representative of a spectrum. on one end of the spectrum you have states like the Netherlands who go along with terror implemented by their allies but do go out of their way to condemn it. unfortunately, in our current global status, this is probably as good as it gets. on the opposite end of the spectrum you have a state like the russian federation that keeps everyone, at home and abroad, under the boot heel of oppression. the key with russia it they are a one stop terror shop. there’s not much obfuscation of who’s doing the terror or why. as for where my nation sits, the united states: it’s not great! i’d say we’re pretty far over into the terrorist state spectrum

      • @[email protected]
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        -187 days ago

        Freedom and democratic values unless you’re a Palestinian baby being shredded into pieces in order to defend said values. It’s better to be a citizen in the US than in Iran China Russia etc. but if you’re a baby being shredded it doesn’t really matter who shredded you.

      • @[email protected]
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        -387 days ago

        Omfg cope the USA has done as much if not more damage to the world then all of those you mentioned. Any coagulation of power is a structure for corruption to take place. This exists in every state. Denying that is childish.

        • walden
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          267 days ago

          I suggest you read some theory, comrade. You’re misguided and Che would be disappointed in you.

        • @[email protected]
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          96 days ago

          Any coagulation of power is a structure for corruption to take place.

          If that’s the case, why are you participating in this moderated forum controlled by other people? Surely you’re just feeding their inevitable corruption.

        • @Dashi
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          67 days ago

          Ahahahaha, I typed up this whole reply but realized their was no point in having a good faith discussion with someone this delusional. So I’m just going to thank you for the laugh.

        • @Dasus
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          135 days ago

          The fuck you talking about nuance when you just generalised literally every state there is?