A Moscow court has charged several major Russian streaming platforms with alleged violations of the country’s sweeping anti-LGBTQ+ “propaganda” law, even as Russian audiences continue to flock to Heated Rivalry.
According to public court records cited by The Moscow Times, the charges target multiple streaming services, including Kinopoisk, Wink, Ivi, Amediteka, 24TV, Digital Television and Beeline TV. The filings do not specify which titles or programs allegedly violated the law. However, Mediazona previously reported that several of these companies have been fined in the past for distributing content Russian authorities claim promotes “non-traditional” relationships or lifestyles.
Wink and Kinopoisk have each been fined at least four times in recent years for alleged LGBTQ+ “propaganda,” while Ivi has also faced multiple penalties. The latest charges underscore Russia’s increasingly aggressive enforcement of laws aimed at erasing queer representation from public life.
The crackdown comes as Heated Rivalry, a Canadian romantic sports drama, has gained massive popularity among Russian viewers through unofficial channels. The series is based on a novel from Rachel Reid’s Game Changers book series and follows two rival professional hockey players whose on-ice competition evolves into a secret, yearslong love affair.
Despite being absent from all licensed Russian streaming platforms, the show has earned an enthusiastic following. Writing for Vanity Fair, Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar described Heated Rivalry as enjoying “extraordinary success” in Russia. On Kinopoisk, the country’s equivalent of IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes, the series currently holds an 8.6 rating from more than 30,000 users. Kinopoisk itself is among the platforms previously fined for LGBTQ+ content.
Russia’s so-called “gay propaganda law” was first enacted in 2013 under the stated goal of “protecting children” from information about “non-traditional sexual relationships.” In 2022, the law was expanded to apply to all audiences, regardless of age. Individuals found in violation can face fines of up to 400,000 rubles, while organizations can be fined as much as 5 million rubles.
In 2023, Russia’s Supreme Court further escalated the crackdown by labeling the so-called “international LGBT movement,” which does not exist as a formal organization, an “extremist” group. The ruling effectively criminalized LGBTQ+ activism, expression and visibility.
Since then, enforcement has intensified. Authorities have fined a man for joking that he founded the LGBTQ+ movement, jailed queer bar staff and venue owners, detained dozens of people at a club night, forced Duolingo to remove inclusive language content, banned Elton John’s AIDS Foundation, labeled My Little Pony as 18-plus content, blocked Roblox, and expelled a gay university student for posting makeup videos online.
Human Rights Watch has repeatedly condemned Russia’s actions. Hugh Williamson, director of the organization’s Europe and Central Asia division, said Russian authorities are “weaponizing the justice system” to marginalize LGBTQ+ people.
“They are flagrantly violating Russians’ rights to free expression, association and non-discrimination,” Williamson said.
As Russia tightens censorship, the underground popularity of shows like Heated Rivalry highlights a growing disconnect between state policy and public interest, and a continued appetite for queer stories, even in the face of legal risk.
