Comment by Tatyana Felgenhauer:
Vladimir Putin regularly raises issues related to demographic problems. This seems even strange in the context of the fact that society learns less and less about the real state of affairs. First, demographic statistics were classified, and then data on the total population of Russia became inaccessible.
Carrot, stick and a lot of propaganda
Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the Russian authorities took the usual path - improving the birth rate through repression. The concept of "reproductive violence" has become established in the country. Women in Russia are literally forced to give birth - by complicating the abortion procedure, through psychological pressure and declaring the "childfree" ideology to be extremist. At the regional level, sometimes there are really strange stories, not to mention the campaigns in the form of "preventive talks".
All this makes the already difficult life of a Russian woman even more complicated. The desire to turn Russian women into incubators leads to absurd and even unnatural things - such as encouraging pregnancy among teenagers. Of course, the combination of repression, psychological pressure, widespread propaganda and various types of financial incentives (after all, in addition to a stick, one needs a carrot) does not give much result. No matter how hard the authorities try, it is not so easy to force women to give birth in conditions of instability and lack of any future.
"Demographic menu" of meaningless measures
For some time now, the government has been implementing a concept called the "demographic menu". It provides for individual regions to choose such measures to improve the demographic situation that would be effective in their opinion. Of course, if there were even one honest, conscientious and courageous person among the ministers, he would tell Vladimir Putin that there is no need for a menu of ten "dishes". A few solutions are enough: to immediately end the war, to work for the economic prosperity of the state and to take care of the happiness of citizens. But for now, the authorities are emphasizing other ideas, mainly financial.
Complaining once again about the low birth rate, Vladimir Putin noted that there are not enough women in Russia. Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova agreed that this was one of the reasons for the situation. But nothing was said in defense of the women who are there. Why aren't they interested in Zhenya Berkovich, who adopted two girls but is in prison? Or the fact that many young women were forced to leave Russia because of her anti-war stance? The number of women who are defenseless against domestic violence is even greater. They are being maimed and killed, but the state is not interested in this. But there is also discussion, for example, whether the title "Mother Heroine" should be equated with the title "Hero of Labor".
It won't get any better
To the already difficult situation, another factor must be added - what happens to the families to which fighters from the Russian army return. Putin sent a huge number of men to the front - some forcibly, and others for a large fee. Many of the men die, become disabled, and suffer the most severe psychological trauma. But none of the statesmen even for a minute thinks about what the price of the surviving Russian men returning home will be.
Outbreaks of violence, primarily domestic, thousands of people with post-traumatic stress disorder, an increase in the number of divorces, a general tolerance for increased levels of aggression. Tatyana Golikova's "menu" does not include any of the above. But it will reach (and has already reached) all regions, regardless of what they decide to choose from the Deputy Prime Minister's proposals. Russian society will pay for the war started by Putin for a long time to come. The victims will be not only those who were against military aggression, but also those who passionately supported it. The only question is whether they will be able to establish the cause-and-effect relationships. Something tells me they won't be able to.