A Russian court has imposed fines on a local news agency and one of its directors for a review they published about the popular series “Heated Rivalry,” deemed LGBTQ+ propaganda by Russian lawmakers. The fines, disclosed by Mediazona and verified by CBC News, were issued after SaratovBusinessConsulting, an entertainment and news website, posted the review in February, which included a link to stream the show. The article has since been removed.
Confirming the fines, a representative from the Oktyabrsky District Court in Saratov stated that the review was penalized for promoting LGBTQ+ propaganda. The news agency received a fine of 500,000 rubles (over $9,000 Cdn), while the agency’s director was fined 50,000 rubles (about $900 Cdn).
“Heated Rivalry,” available on Crave and HBO Max, can only be accessed in Russia through VPNs or unauthorized platforms. Despite these limitations, the series has garnered a considerable fan base in Russia, with fan-created content circulating on social media. The review highlighted the show’s popularity reasons, but CBC News could not access it as it has been deleted.
On Kinopoisk, a Russian platform akin to IMDb, the series has received an 8.3 out of 10 rating from over 60,000 users. “Heated Rivalry” portrays the intense relationship between Russian hockey player Ilya Rozanov and Canadian player Shane Hollander, delving into Rozanov’s concerns about coming out publicly as gay and its impact on his return to Russia.
The Russian government enforces strict laws against LGBTQ+ content, banning its promotion in any form. These laws, expanded and signed by President Vladimir Putin in 2022, prohibit media coverage and materials supporting “non-traditional” relationships. Notably, books and films have been restricted, with works by authors like Oscar Wilde and Haruki Murakami being banned. Additionally, Russia has labeled the LGBTQ+ movement as extremist and prosecuted individuals for sharing Pride flag images.