The Belaya Vorona publishing house has removed books by Swedish author Sven Nordqvist from sale after the translator of those books was designated a foreign agent in Russia. The press service of the publishing house announced the decision on June 6.

Alexandra Polivanova, a human rights activist who translated Nordqvist’s “Hunting for Foxes,” “Pettson Goes Camping,” “Pettson is Sad,” and “Cooking with Pettson and Findus” into Russian, was added to the Ministry of Justice’s registry of foreign agents in late May.

The publishing house emphasized that Polivanova’s translations were made two decades ago, coinciding with the initial introduction of the Pettson and Findus stories to Russian audiences. They credited her work with significantly contributing to the books’ popularity among Russian readers.

The publisher stated that, legally, a book’s translator is considered equivalent to the author. As a result, they were compelled to temporarily withdraw the four titles from sale.

To resume sales, the publisher will need to reclassify the books with an 18+ age rating, affix foreign agent labels to the covers, and meet other formal requirements. The publishing house acknowledged that this process would present “nuances.”

Sven Nordqvist is renowned for his children’s books centered on the old farmer Pettson and his resourceful kitten Findus. These stories have also been adapted into films, cartoons, and a computer game. Besides the Pettson and Findus series, Nordqvist is recognized as the illustrator and co-author of the Mama Mu and Raven Krax fairy tales.