Andrei Kotov, 48, Director of Men Travel, Found Dead by Suicide at 4 a.m. in Moscow Detention Center

Dec 29, 2024, 01:12 PM

Andrei Kotov, a 48-year-old Russian travel agency director accused of organizing a gay travel agency, was found dead in a pre-trial detention center in Moscow. Reports from Russian Telegram channels linked to law enforcement indicate that he committed suicide. Kotov had been detained in December and claimed he was beaten during his arrest. The prosecution's case against him was based on his own statements and data retrieved from his phone, although he did not plead guilty. His lawyer confirmed that authorities stated he took his own life at 4 a.m. The human rights group OVD-Info has also reported on the incident. Kotov was associated with the travel agency 'Men Travel,' which organized trips for gay tourists, and faced accusations of participating in an 'LGBT extremist organization.'