Swedish furniture retailer IKEA says it will no longer issue a Russian edition of its Family Live magazine to avoid violating the country's anti-gay propaganda law.
The retailer said in a statement on its website that the online magazine, which features various families and shows how they have decorated their homes, does not discriminate based on sexual orientation and should not have an age restriction.
It is illegal in Russia to promote "non-traditional sexual relations to minors" under a controversial 2013 law. Most publications that contain even a reference to the existence of homosexuality are now marked "18+," as the law does not specify what constitutes "promotion."
The retailer said in its statement that the magazine has the same contents in all 25 countries where it is published.
But in 2013, the magazine's Russian edition omitted an article about a British lesbian couple raising a baby — a move that Swedish gay rights activists reportedly denounced as cowardly.
The magazine has also caught flak for deleting women from photos for its Saudi Arabian catalogue.
The store was harshly criticized by officials in Italy in 2011, when an ad appeared on billboards showing two men holding hands with a caption about how the store is "open to all families."
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
