Stephen King’s *It* mysteriously disappears from Russian bookstores amid new censorship laws
Stephen King’s 1986 horror novel It has vanished from major Russian bookstores and online platforms. The removal follows a series of new laws targeting LGBT and child-unfriendly content, though officials insist no formal ban exists.
The novel, which focuses on children battling a monstrous entity in the fictional town of Derry, was widely available in Russia until recently. As of November 20, retailers like Wildberries and Russ no longer list the book for sale. TASS reported that these platforms may have pulled It over concerns about violating updated propaganda laws.
Wildberries confirmed it adheres strictly to Russian legislation and does not stock prohibited items. The company did not specify whether It had been flagged for removal. Meanwhile, the Moscow Ministry of Culture denied issuing any official banned book lists, leaving the exact reason for the withdrawal unclear.
King’s strained relationship with Russia began in early 2022, when he halted cooperation with local publishers after criticising President Putin’s actions in Ukraine. By late 2022, Russia expanded its ban on LGBT propaganda to include media, literature, and advertising. This November, further restrictions were introduced, outlawing child-unfriendly propaganda across similar platforms.
Despite these measures, It has not been formally banned. Yet its absence from shelves and digital stores suggests retailers are taking a precautionary approach under the new legal framework.
The disappearance of It mirrors broader changes in Russia’s content regulations. While no direct ban has been announced, booksellers appear to be proactively removing material that could potentially conflict with recent laws. King’s earlier criticism of the Kremlin and the novel’s themes may have contributed to its removal from circulation.
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