Russia's Parliament Targets 'Childlessness Propaganda' in New Legislation

The Russian parliament is developing a law to ban the promotion of childlessness, with substantial fines for offenders. The draft legislation targets media, films, advertising, and online content that advocates a child-free lifestyle, aiming to boost the birth rate amidst declining demographics.

The Russian parliament is set to impose stringent penalties on the promotion of a child-free lifestyle, a move pushed by a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, Vyacheslav Volodin. The legislation, which could levy hefty fines, targets media, films, advertising, and online content that encourage people to consciously avoid having children.

Volodin, who chairs the State Duma, asserts that this 'childlessness propaganda' undermines traditional family values. The urgency behind this legislative push is accentuated by recent statistics highlighting a sharp decline in Russia's birth rate, coinciding with elevated mortality rates and ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The draft law prescribes fines up to $4,300 for individuals and $53,763 for companies found guilty of such propaganda. Reaction to the proposal has been mixed, with some Russians supporting it as a defense of traditional values and others criticizing it as an infringement on personal freedoms.

(With inputs from agencies.)