Russia to ban promotion of "childless lifestyle" and impose heavy fines on people spreading "child-free propaganda"

By lauraharris // 2024-10-01

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The Russian parliament is set to ban the promotion of a "childless lifestyle" and impose heavy fines for spreading "propaganda of childlessness" to boost the low birth rate and traditional family values. In the past few years, President Vladimir Putin has increasingly urged Russians to embrace "traditional values," including the idea that women should aim to have at least three children to secure their future as a nation. But because of the societal trends in many Western countries, where media outlets often highlight the benefits of delaying and avoiding parenthood, Russia's birth rate currently stands at 1.49 children per woman – well below the replacement rate of 2.1 needed to sustain population levels. (Related: Study commissioned by globalist group predicts rapid population decline before end of century.) This population crisis has become a key issue for at least 25 years, exacerbated by war-related fatalities in Ukraine. In response, Elvira Aitkulova, a senior member of the education committee of the State Duma, along with other representatives, is currently drafting new legislation that would ban pro-abortion and anti-family propaganda across multiple platforms, including online, in films, advertisements and media. The draft bill, set to be introduced in the State Duma on Oct. 1, seeks to combat the spread of harmful messages encouraging childlessness, particularly among young people. "The bill concerns propaganda – the targeted dissemination of information to promote a lifestyle without family and children," Aitkulova said. "It is not about the right of individuals to make personal choices, but about efforts to convince others, especially minors, that a childless life is superior." Moreover, the legislation would impose heavy penalties on those found guilty of promoting "child-free propaganda." Individuals could face fines of up to 400,000 rubles ($4,290), while government officials could be fined as much as 800,000 rubles ($8,580). Corporations, on the other hand, could face fines as high as five million rubles ($53,600) for violating the proposed rules.

Russian leaders criticize the growing child-free movement

The proposed legislation comes amid broader societal debates over the role of traditional values in Russia. For instance, some officials urge lawmakers to refine certain aspects of the legislation, including the definition of "child-free ideology" to ensure it doesn't unjustly target individuals who are childless due to religious beliefs, medical conditions or victims of rape. They stressed that the bill should focus on propaganda rather than personal decisions. However, others, including Speaker Valentina Matvienko of the Federation Council, warned that the "child-free movement" had become part of the "radicalized" feminist agenda. Matvienko criticized modern feminism for evolving into an attack on men and family values. Similarly, Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin of the State Duma claimed that certain groups on social media "disrespect motherhood and fatherhood" and promote hostility toward pregnant women, children and large families, so they should be banned. "Groups and communities on social networks often show disrespect for motherhood and fatherhood and aggression towards pregnant women and children, as well as members of large families," said Volodin. "A friendly and large family is the basis of a strong state." Read more news about the global population crisis at Depopulation.news. Watch this video about population control. This video is from the Waking Patriots channel on Brighteon.com.

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Russian leaders criticize the growing child-free movement

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