Closure of Russian publisher Individuum marks major loss for Russian-language literature

Russian publisher Individuum has announced it is closing after 11 years, during which it reshaped how nonfiction and fiction were produced in the Russian language. Founded in 2015 by Alexey Dokuchaev and Mikhail Vrubel, the publisher was known for original cover design, thorough editing and a knack for spotting timely subjects. Felix Sandalov became editor-in-chief in 2018, bringing over a decade of media experience, including at Afisha.

The publisher pioneered what it called "adventure nonfiction," inviting people with unusual professional experience — anthropologists, journalists, performers — to turn their personal stories into books. This approach produced several hit titles between 2019 and 2021, including works by Olga Allenova, Daniil Turovsky, Robert Garayev and Maxim Semelyak, which explored uncomfortable aspects of contemporary Russian life, from a terrorist attack to organized crime and hacking.

Individuum also published translated works, including John Hersey's classic "Hiroshima," alongside distinctive fiction such as novels by Roman Mikhailov and Charlie Kaufman's "Antkind."

Mounting pressure

After 2022, the publisher continued releasing socially engaged books on subjects including the destruction of documentary theater, genocide, and censorship — even publishing an edition of Pushkin's "Yevgeny Onegin" with censored passages left visibly cut.

Pressure intensified after a threat to burn down the office of its imprint, Popcorn Books, was followed by the Justice Ministry designating employees and authors as "foreign agents." Books with queer themes disappeared from stores after the "international LGBT public movement" was labeled extremist in Russia. Individuum was forced into a sale in 2022, with control passing to publisher Eksmo by 2023–2024.

In May 2025, three Individuum employees were charged under a law targeting an "extremist organization," receiving suspended sentences in 2026. Several book fairs also refused to let the publisher take part. Individuum announced its closure in 2026, though observers note that the community of writers and editors it fostered is expected to continue its work in other forms.