A gay Russian man who took part in a YouTube video where children asked him about his sexuality has been forced to go into hiding after authorities opened a criminal case against him. Maxim Pankratov took part in the Real Talk video series and was asked unscripted questions by four children aged between six and 13 about his experiences as a gay man. However, the video was immediately removed due to Russia’s “gay propaganda” law – and now, Pankratov has said that he has been forced to go into hiding over the furore. “It was a normal conversation about my life and they want to put me in jail,” the 22-year-old told CNN.