Putin's regime calls its opponents foreign agents and at the same time suppresses non-heterosexual people under the pretext of fighting “propaganda”. Now it is introducing another means of censorship. Russia's State Duma has unanimously approved a bill banning the “advertisement of childlessness” on the Internet, in the media, in advertisements and in films. The new law provides for high fines for citizens, and foreigners will be imprisoned for up to 15 days and deported from Russia in addition to this fine.
That freedom of speech does not exist in Putin's Russia is nothing new. But another goal of local politicians may be surprising, which is to get people talking about childlessness.
– This action is criticized mainly from abroad. They are doing everything to destroy our nation, to stop the development of Russia. This is not a simple law. Vyacheslav Volodin, the chairman of the Russian Duma, says that this project is a matter of survival of the state.
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Worrying about the future of the country – this is why politicians in Russia explain another tool of censorship to anyone who claims to live without children. Deprived of any real opposition, the State Duma unanimously passed a bill banning the “propaganda of childlessness” on the Internet, in the media, in advertisements and in films.
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The regulation stipulates the equivalent of financial fines of more than 16,000 PLN for individuals, 32,000 PLN for public officials and more than 200,000 PLN for enterprises. In addition to a fine, foreigners can be arrested for up to 15 days and deported from Russia.
– Abandonment of parents may be an element of hybrid war against our country. The same kind of advertising of drugs, pedophilia, gender reassignment and advertising of non-traditional sexual relations – Sergey Boyarsky, a member of the Russian Duma, said from the podium.
The new law is an extension of existing regulations aimed at same-sex relationships and the LGBTQ+ community. The authorities want to fight against the lowest birth rate in a quarter of a century by banning “advertisement of childlessness”.
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This is low because more and more young Russians are dying – at Putin's behest – in the war in Ukraine, but also because Russian women are simply not affected by the pro-parent incentives offered by the government, as Alina Rzhanova is. , a former childlessness promoter from Yaroslavl.
– Few people like me promote childlessness. People want to have children, they want to start a family. Women want to give birth not once, but two or three times, but they just don't have the money, Alina Rzhanova points out.
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When people are confident in their future, they want to have children.”
According to the Russian Statistics Office, in the first half of this year, fewer than 600,000 children were born in Russia, the lowest number since 1999. The bonus offered by Putin in the form of lump sum payments of PLN 28,000 for the first child and around PLN 37,000 for the second does not help.
– What should be done? We need to – let's say – stabilize the political situation. We need to create good living conditions in the country so that the people who left can return. Russia should find its place in the world political system not by fists, but by diplomacy and join the group of developed countries, – believes Yana, a childless resident of Moscow.
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Yana does not reveal her last name, and this is not surprising. As an opponent of the state's demographic policy, he can be punished under the new law. The woman is concerned about the activities of childless groups that share experiences. According to him, the new law will affect their civil liberties.
– When people want to have children, they believe in their future. But when mortgages are at 20 percent, it doesn't seem like a good time to be a parent. I live in Moscow, but in the regions people are just fighting for survival, the woman emphasizes.
The draft law must be approved by the Federation Council. The upper house of parliament will consider it on November 20. If the regulation is adopted, the bill will go to Vladimir Putin's desk.
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Main photo source: PAP/EPA/ALEKSANDR KAZAKOV / Sputnik / KREMLIN POOL
