Police in Moscow were called to investigate an event dedicated to the cartoon series ‘My Little Pony’ over alleged LGBTQ+ propaganda, according to organisers.
The event, the Mi Amore convention, was shut down by organisers early on Saturday after officers arrived at the venue.
Police were unable to find any evidence of LGBTQ+ propaganda at the event, which is considered an illegal activity in Russia.
“The police received a complaint claiming that our event promoted non-traditional relationships and related symbols, adult content for minors, and general horror and darkness,” event organisers wrote on the Russian social media site VK Sunday. “Two police checks did not uphold these complaints.”
‘My Little Pony’ is a toy line and media franchise developed by the company Hasbro centred around ponies with colourful manes.
The Moscow event was dedicated to the cartoon series, which focuses on the power of friendship and is targeted to an audience under the age of 10 – though the convention catered to its many adult fans.
The logo of the convention in the Russian capital was a pony with a mane styled in the colours of the Russian flag.
‘My Little Pony’ has prompted anxiety in Russia as the country’s authorities crack down on the local LGBTQ+ community, with Russian movie database Kinopoisk changing the cartoon series’ rating to an adult-only 18+ in December 2023.
In November 2023, a Russian court declared “the global LGBTQ+ movement”
