A newly married couple poses in front of the Russian State Duma, the lower house of Russia's Parliament, in central Moscow. Russian MPs have approved legislation banning the 'propaganda' of childless lifestyles, marking the latest measure targeting what Moscow portrays as Western liberal ideas.
On Tuesday, Russian MPs passed the controversial legislation in its final third reading, which prohibits the 'propaganda' of remaining childless. This move is part of a broader effort by Moscow to counter what it views as Western liberal influences. Facing an ageing population and low birth rates, the Russian government is aiming to reverse a demographic slump, exacerbated by its military actions in Ukraine, which poses a threat to its economic future.
MPs in the Duma, the lower house of parliament, voted unanimously in favor of the draft bill, which would apply to materials online, in media, advertising, and films that promote 'rejection of childbearing'. The bill specifically targets 'destructive content' that encourages a 'conscious' rejection of having children. Violations of this law would result in fines ranging from 400,000 rubles ($4,000) for individuals to five million rubles for businesses. Additionally, the bill includes a provision for the deportation of foreigners.
'This is a fateful law... Without children, there will be no country. This ideology will lead to people stopping giving birth to children,' said Duma's speaker Vyacheslav Volodin before the vote. He also emphasized that the legislation is about 'protecting citizens, primarily the generation growing up, from information spread in the media space that negatively affects the development of personality'. Volodin added that this is 'so new generations of our citizens grow up orientated towards traditional family values'.
The legislation will now be reviewed by the upper house of parliament on November 20, before being signed into law by President Vladimir Putin. Moscow has long positioned itself as a defender against liberal values, a stance that has significantly intensified since the Kremlin's offensive in Ukraine, further straining relations with the West.
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