Russian politician Alexander Starovoitov, a member of the rightwing LDPR party, is accusing Apple of distributing pro-gay propaganda to minors with its U2 album giveaway. That's the same album—Songs of Innocence—giveaway that was a thing back in September of 2014, but a new version of the album cover has homophobes in Russia freaking out that they might catch teh gheys, and they want Apple punished.
Apple gave away copies of the album to iTunes account holders as part of a promotional campaign. The company came under fire from users—especially young users—who were angry that Apple pushed the album into accounts without their approval. Apple apologized and gave customers a way of removing the dreaded free music, but it's a new album cover that has some Russians hot and bothered.
That cover, according to The Guardian, features a photo of drummer Larry Mullen embracing his own son, Elvis. As shown below, both men are shirtless. According to the band, it's a simple photographic metaphor for, "how holding on to your own innocence is a lot harder than holding on to someone else's."
U2's Songs of Innocence Album Cover
Not so, says Duma member Alexander Starovoitov! To him, it's clear that the cover is designed to promote gay sex. Kremlin propaganda rag Izvestia found an attorney who is ready to sue Apple seeking compensation for moral damages his own son has incurred from viewing the album cover.
Russia and its own shirtless wonder Vladimir Putin passed draconian anti-homosexual laws in 2013. Those laws effectively ban homosexuality as a thing and make it illegal to give children any information about homosexuality. If Apple were to be found guilty of violating that law, it could be banned from doing business in the country for 90 days.
This isn't the first salvo Russia has fired at Apple during the last year. The country has demanded access to Apple's source code so it can check for spyware operated by the NSA. When Apple CEO Tim Cook came out as gay in 2014, the city of St. Petersburg tore down a sculpture of an iPhone dedicated to the late Steve Jobs.
You know, because of teh gheys.
Stay classy, Russia.