Putin approves a law banning as “propaganda” any idea that promotes a “childless life”

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on Saturday banning the dissemination of ideas promoting a "childless life" on the Internet, in the media, in film or in advertising.

Under the law, any person or organisation found guilty of such an offence would face an administrative fine of between 200,000 and one million roubles (1,800 and 9,200 euros).

The chairman of the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Federal Assembly, Vyacheslav Volodin, wanted to clarify immediately after the signing that the new legislation "is in no way directed against a woman's decision not to give birth" but is intended to "protect the new generation from destructive tendencies".

According to Volodin, everything must be done to ensure that the new generations of citizens "grow up focused on traditional family values", according to his statements, reported by the Russian news agency TASS.

According to data from the DPA agency, the birth rate in Russia fell to a 25-year low in the first half of 2024. The demographic crisis has recently been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, which has apparently led many people in Russia to postpone their plans to have families.

Russia's population has been steadily falling in recent years. While there were almost 149 million people living in Russia in 1990, the figure is now just under 144 million. According to statisticians' calculations, this figure could fall to between 133 and 136 million by 2050.

Shortly before, Putin also signed a new law banning the adoption of children from the Russian Federation by citizens of countries that allow gender reassignment, again according to the TASS agency. Volodin also commented that the law aims to protect children from "potential dangers in Austria, Estonia, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Slovenia and Switzerland", where "there are no age restrictions for legal gender reassignment."

Europa Press