The lower house of the Russian parliament today passed a law banning the propaganda of the childless lifestyle. The law is adopted at a time of demographic crisis in the country, reinforced by the conflict in Ukraine, reported France Press.
Individuals accused of promoting a childless lifestyle to minors in the media or on the Internet under the new law risk heavy fines that can reach 400,000 rubles (4,000 euros). And the violators, who are foreigners, will also be deported outside the borders of the Russian Federation.
The fine for legal entities can reach up to 5,000,000 rubles (47,000 euros).
The law is also expected to be approved by the upper house on November 20 and signed by President Vladimir Putin.
"We are adopting this draft law to protect our youth from useless ideologies," said Nina Ostanina, chairwoman of the family policy committee of the Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament.
Political and religious leaders see the defense of traditional values as a continuation of Russia's struggle against the West, which is accused of "moral decline". The rights of the LGBT community are also gradually being restricted, notes AFP.
Besides protecting traditional values, the text aims to help fight Russia's severe demographic crisis inherited from the Soviet era. The authorities are unable to cope with it despite the measures to promote the birth rate, which did not have the intended effect. In July, the Kremlin admitted that the situation was "catastrophic for the future of the nation". In 2023 the birth rate in Russia was about 1.41 children per woman of childbearing age, according to initial estimates from the Russian Statistics Agency (Rosstat), cited by the business daily RBK.