Fines, arrest and even expulsion. After “LGBT propaganda”, Russia is moving on to “childlessness propaganda”

The fact that freedom of speech does not exist in Putin's Russia is nothing new. However, another target of local politicians may be surprising, i.e. people talking about childlessness.

– There are critics of this act, mainly from abroad. They are doing everything to make our nation disappear, to stop Russia's development. This is not ordinary law. This bill is a matter of state survival, argues Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the Russian Duma.

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Concern for the future of the country – this is how politicians in Russia explain another censorship tool aimed at everyone who claims that they can live without children. Deprived of any real opposition, the State Duma unanimously adopted a bill banning “childlessness propaganda” on the Internet, media, advertising and films.

The regulations provide for financial penalties equivalent to over PLN 16,000 for natural persons, PLN 32,000 for state officials and over PLN 200,000 for enterprises. In addition to a fine, foreigners will face arrest for up to 15 days and expulsion from Russia.

– Abandoning parenthood is probably an element of the hybrid war against our country. The same as propaganda of drugs, pedophilia, gender change and propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships – said Sergei Boyarsky, a member of the Russian Duma, from the podium.

The new law is intended to be an extension of existing provisions targeting same-sex relationships and the LGBTQ+ community. By banning the “propaganda of childlessness”, the authorities want to fight against the lowest birth rate in a quarter of a century.

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It is low because increasingly younger Russians – at Putin's request – are dying on the front in Ukraine, but also because Russian women are simply not influenced by the pro-parental incentives offered by the government, which is confirmed by Alina Rzhanova, a former promoter of childlessness from Yaroslavl.

– Few people are as committed to promoting childlessness as I was. People want to have children, they want to start families. Women want to give birth not once, but twice or three times, but they simply do not have money, points out Alina Rzhanova.

According to the Russian statistical office, less than 600,000 children were born in Russia in the first half of this year – the lowest number since 1999. The rewards offered by Putin in the form of one-off payments of PLN 28,000 for the first child and almost PLN 37,000 for the second do not help.

– What should be done? We need – let's call it – stabilization of the political situation. We need to create good living conditions in the country so that people who left would want to come back. Russia must find its place in the global political system, not with fists, but with diplomacy, and join the group of developed countries – believes Jana, a childless resident of Moscow.

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Jana does not reveal her surname and it is hardly surprising. As an opponent of the state's demographic policy, she could face punishment under the new law. The woman is worried about the activities of groups of childless people who exchange their experiences. According to her, the new law will affect their civil liberties.

– People want to have children when they are sure of their future. But when mortgages are at 20 percent, it doesn't seem like the right time to be a parent. I live in Moscow, but in the provinces people are simply struggling to survive, the woman points out.

The bill must be approved by the Federation Council. The upper house of parliament will consider it on November 20. If the regulations are adopted, the bill will go to Vladimir Putin's desk.