Russia Bans "Western Liberal Propaganda" on Choosing Not to Have Kids

Russian lawmakers passed a controversial bill on Tuesday, aiming to prohibit the promotion of "propaganda" that encourages people to choose not to have children. The legislation, passed in a final third reading by MPs in the State Duma, marks a new effort to combat what Moscow perceives as Western liberal values. The law seeks to reverse Russia’s demographic decline, driven by an aging population and low birth rates, issues further exacerbated by the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine. The Russian government has been focused on reversing this demographic trend, which it sees as a threat to its economic stability.

The bill targets content that advocates a "conscious rejection of childbearing," especially in the media, online platforms, films, and advertisements. It aims to crack down on materials that promote the idea of not having children as a lifestyle choice. While the bill’s sponsors stress that it will not punish individuals for their personal decision not to have children, it specifically targets the active promotion of this ideology.

Violators of the new law face hefty fines: individuals could be fined up to 400,000 rubles (around $4,000), and businesses could be fined as much as five million rubles. The legislation also includes provisions to deport foreign nationals found guilty of spreading such content within Russia. 

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Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the Duma, strongly defended the bill, calling it a "fateful law" and arguing that a country without children faces a bleak future. He stated that the law aims to protect the country’s younger generation from foreign influences and ideas that may harm their development. Volodin emphasized that the law would steer the youth towards "traditional family values," protecting them from "destructive" ideologies promoted in media.

Communist Party MP Nina Ostanina, who heads the Duma's family policy committee, described the bill as a safeguard against the spread of unnecessary ideologies. She stated that the law would help preserve traditional values and prevent foreign ideologies from corrupting Russian youth.

This move comes as part of a broader trend of legislation in Russia aimed at curbing the spread of Western liberal ideas, including the previous ban on promoting LGBTQ relationships and gender reassignment. The bill on childbearing propaganda will now move to the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, on November 20, before it is sent to President Vladimir Putin for final approval. It is expected to be signed into law by the Russian president.

The legislation is seen as part of a growing drive by the Russian government to uphold what it considers traditional values and resist the influence of Western countries, especially in the wake of the ongoing war in Ukraine. These measures are also coupled with new legislation banning foreign nationals from adopting Russian children if they live in countries where gender reassignment is legal. This ban extends to countries that allow gender changes through medical intervention, including the alteration of official identity documents. The legislation is aimed at preventing Russian children from being exposed to practices related to gender reassignment.

This new bill on adoption comes alongside broader restrictions on LGBTQ rights, with Russia continuing to create an increasingly hostile environment for LGBTQ individuals. In 2023, Russia banned the international LGBT movement, labeling it extremist. The government has also made gender reassignment illegal, further enforcing its stance on what it sees as the preservation of Russian values and family structures.

This policy, which builds on a previous 2012 ban on US adoptions following a controversial case involving the death of a Russian child in the care of an adoptive American father, signals a continued effort by the Russian government to limit foreign influence and maintain strict control over issues related to family and identity. Since the start of the Ukraine conflict, these policies have gained momentum, signaling a more isolationist and conservative turn for Russia under the leadership of President Putin.

The Russian parliament's approach to childbearing, adoption, and LGBTQ rights reflects a broader narrative that aligns the country more closely with traditionalist ideologies while rejecting Western liberalism. As tensions with the West continue, these domestic policies are likely to be part of a longer-term strategy by the Kremlin to consolidate power internally while undermining external influences.

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