Putin is targeting a tour company serving the LGBTQ+ community that is operating right under his watch.

The next piece of news we have for you is quite concerning. As you may have heard, a travel agent in Russia has recently been labeled a terrorist for simply organizing tours for the LGBTQ+ community. Andrey Kotov, the director of Men Travel, a travel agency that specializes in catering to queer clients, was arrested in the middle of the night during a raid on his home.

This is just the latest incident in Vladimir Putin's ongoing war against the LGBTQ+ community. The 48-year-old Kotov shared that during his arrest, the police even resorted to using electric shocks on him, despite the fact that he did not resist in any way. It's truly heartbreaking to hear about such brutal treatment towards someone who was simply doing their job.

According to reports, a group of 15 people broke into Kotov's home and physically assaulted him, leaving his body covered in bruises. There is even footage from the raid that shows the travel agent on the floor, shackled and being questioned by uniformed officers. He was forced to say things that they wanted to hear, even though he insisted that his agency only organizes regular trips for tourists. But the security forces refused to believe him, stating that it was only for gay people.

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As reported by independent news outlet Mediazona, Kotov has been charged with setting up activities for an "extremist" group, but he has denied these allegations. The accusations against him are related to organizing an LGBTQ+ boat cruise on the Volga River and planning a New Year's tour to Egypt. It's truly disheartening to see someone being punished for simply trying to provide travel opportunities for their community.

Interestingly enough, Kotov's arrest comes just days after multiple nightclubs in Moscow were raided by the police as part of the government's crackdown on what they consider to be "LGBTQ+ propaganda." Videos shared on social media showed partygoers being forced to lie on the floor as officers searched the premises. Phones, laptops, and cameras were seized, and people's documents were inspected. This all happened exactly one year after Russia's Supreme Court banned the LGBTQ+ movement, labeling it as an "extremist organization." It's just another example of the decades-long crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights in the country, where traditional family values are heavily promoted by Putin's regime.

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