The “NecroComiCon” festival in St. Petersburg is under scrutiny after organizers were summoned to the Krasnogvardeysky district administration for discussions regarding potential promotion of extremist symbols. The festival, scheduled for November 1-2, is facing challenges, including alleged obstruction of equipment installation and concerns raised by local officials.

The Krasnogvardeysky district administration stated that it monitors all events in the area, and “NecroComiCon” attracted attention due to concerns about destructive symbols and elements associated with extremist ideology. Officials emphasized the responsibility for promoting extremist symbols and violating laws related to the promotion of non-traditional relationships. The organizer’s position was recorded, and the administration is analyzing data about the festival to assess its legality.

Alexey Samsonov, the festival’s producer, claims that organizers were physically prevented from installing equipment at the venue on October 31, despite approval from the Committee for Industrial Policy, Innovation, and Trade. Samsonov believes the issues stem from the personal stance of Krasnogvardeysky district administration officials, who requested clarification on the event’s “true goals” and recorded the conversation during the meeting.

The prosecutor’s office had previously reviewed “NecroComiCon” and issued a warning about violating the law protecting children from harmful information. Consequently, the festival’s age rating was raised from 12+ to 18+.

Samsonov was later detained and taken to a local police station for a migration law compliance check, despite being a citizen of Kazakhstan residing in St. Petersburg for approximately 20 years. The festival was previously known as “StarCon Halloween” from 2016 to 2022.