A local news agency in Russia, along with one of its directors, has been fined a significant amount of money by a Russian court for publishing a review on the popular series “Heated Rivalry,” which Russian authorities view as LGBTQ+ propaganda. The fines were imposed after the agency, SaratovBusinessConsulting, posted a review of the queer hockey series, which included information on streaming options. The article was published in February but has since been removed.
The Oktyabrsky District Court in Saratov confirmed that the fines were issued due to the perceived LGBTQ+ propaganda in the series. The news agency was fined 500,000 rubles, equivalent to over $9,000 Cdn, while the agency’s director received a fine of 50,000 rubles, approximately $900 Cdn.
“Heated Rivalry,” originally produced for Bell Media’s Crave platform and airing on HBO Max in the U.S., is not officially available in Russia, leading fans to resort to VPNs or pirated sources. Despite these restrictions, the show has garnered a significant fan base in Russia, with fan tributes and content surfacing on social media platforms.
The review highlighted the series’ popularity, which has resonated with Russian fans, particularly due to the personal struggles depicted by the characters. On the Russian platform Kinopoisk, the series has received a high rating of 8.3 out of 10 from over 60,000 fans. The storyline focuses on the relationship between Russian hockey player Ilya Rozanov and Canadian player Shane Hollander, exploring themes of identity and acceptance.
Russia’s strict laws against LGBTQ+ propaganda have resulted in bans on media content and materials deemed to promote non-traditional relationships. The legislation, signed into law by President Vladimir Putin in 2022, prohibits the dissemination of LGBTQ+ information in the media. This has led to the removal of books and films from circulation, with instances of banned works by renowned authors like Oscar Wilde and Haruki Murakami. Additionally, Russia has labeled the LGBTQ+ movement as an extremist organization and has taken legal action against individuals for displaying Pride flags.