Police interruption at Moscow's My Little Pony fan event over alleged non‑traditional relationship propaganda

"Our event faced complaints regarding alleged propaganda of non-traditional relationships, symbols, 18+ content for minors, and generally, horror and darkness. After two police checks in response to these complaints, these allegations were not substantiated. However, the police chiefs suggested we end the event early to avoid larger issues, especially due to the current situation in the country," shared the event organizers, as quoted by the independent Russian portal Astra.

"Then, we heard news of approaching police officer buses. Although this information was later found to be inaccurate, we concluded the event earlier than anticipated," the organizers explained in a statement posted on the vKontakte portal.

They added that all attendees left the venue without any incidents.

Russian journalists noted that the event's logo included My Little Pony's character, Rainbow Dash, which was depicted with an altered mane. "The organizers purposely changed the rainbow mane of the pony to the Russian tricolour colours, but this didn't save them from the accusations," underlined the independent Russian portal, Sota.

Last year, the Russian Supreme Court deemed the "International Social Movement LGBT" as extremist and prohibited its activities in Russia.

"A few days after the ruling, the cartoon My Little Pony was given an 18+ rating on Kinopoisk, a Russian commercial internet film database, likely due to one of the film characters, Rainbow Dash," pointed out the independent portal Meduza.