Russian authorities have blocked access to MyAnimeList, the world’s largest anime and manga database, citing the alleged spread of “LGBTQ+ propaganda” and extremist content.

The ban, enforced by Russia’s federal media watchdog Roskomnadzor, took effect last Wednesday when the site was added to the country’s national blacklist of prohibited online platforms. Russian users attempting to access the Tokyo-based site — which serves over 20 million users worldwide — now receive an error message indicating state restriction.

While the agency initially gave no public explanation, it later told the state-run outlet RIA Novosti that MyAnimeList had engaged in the “systematic placement of materials containing information propagating non-traditional sexual relations and/or preferences,” language commonly used under Russia’s laws against LGBTQ+ expression.

Roskomnadzor said the ban could be lifted if MyAnimeList removes all content deemed unlawful under Russian law.

The decision comes amid a broader tightening of internet censorship and expanding restrictions on LGBTQ+ visibility in Russia. The government first passed its so-called “gay propaganda” law in 2013, banning any positive or neutral depictions of same-sex relationships accessible to minors. In 2022, lawmakers extended the prohibition to all age groups, effectively outlawing public discussion or representation of LGBTQ+ identities.

In late 2023, Russia’s Supreme Court went further, declaring the “international LGBT public movement” an extremist organization, a ruling that criminalized even symbolic support for LGBTQ+ rights.

MyAnimeList’s ban is the latest in a series of actions targeting Japanese animation. In 2021, a St. Petersburg court prohibited several popular anime titles — including Death Note, Tokyo Ghoul, and Inuyashiki — claiming they encouraged violence and antisocial behavior among teenagers.

Critics argue that these measures reflect the government’s increasing reliance on cultural censorship to enforce conservative social values.

The operators of MyAnimeList, headquartered in Tokyo and owned by the Japanese firm Media Do, have not publicly commented on the ban.