“Opposed in meaning to marital fidelity”. Russian court fines news site under “LGBT propaganda” law for Valentine’s feature on straight swingers

The piece that triggered the fine was a light Valentine’s Day feature, published on February 14 under the headline “‘No way back from debauchery’: How swinger parties work in Russia—we found out everything, even the prices”. A subhead promised that a “connoisseur”—anonymous person named Alexei—had revealed the subculture’s inner workings, adding that it “strengthens families”. The article has since been deleted but is accessible through the Wayback Machine.

Alexei walked readers through the logistics: entry to a large organized party runs about 10,000 rubles ($133), admission is by recommendation only, and some prominent guests travel to other cities to preserve anonymity. Much of the piece discussed etiquette and safety (consent as foundational, some organizers requiring proof of recent STI testing, etc.). Alexei also described why couples attend: to “refresh” long-running relationships. This framing was further reinforced by closing quotes from a Russian swing-scene author who argued the practice “strengthens” relationships rather than undermines them.

In its assessment, the regional office of Roskomnadzor, Russia’s censorship agency, argued that the concept of “partner swapping” is opposed in meaning to “marital fidelity” and “matrimonial union”, terms the agency said “connote the stability and closedness of a couple, voluntary exclusivity (monogamy)”.

The court agreed, concluding that the article contained information presenting “non-traditional sexual relationships and preferences” as attractive, or giving positive appraisal or “approval” of such relationships.

This is not an isolated case for the Shkulev holding. In March 2026, courts in Samara and Novosibirsk received additional “LGBT propaganda” complaints targeting outlets within the group, though authorities have not disclosed which articles were cited. That same month, a court in Yekaterinburg fined another of the holding’s regional publications for mentioning a designated “foreign agent” without the required labeling.

Russia first adopted a ban on “LGBT propaganda” in 2013 under the pretence of protecting minors. In 2022, lawmakers expanded the law to cover audiences of all ages, and in 2023 Russia’s Supreme Court designated the (obviosuly non-existent “international LGBT social movement” as “extremist”, effectively outlawing content that portrays non-heterosexual relationships (or, as this ruling shows, non-monogamous ones) in a neutral or favorable light.