Russia has once again made headlines with an unconventional approach to addressing its low birthrate.
On Tuesday, Russia’s state-run TASS news agency reported that a bill prohibiting the promotion of a child-free lifestyle had been submitted to the State Duma (lower house of parliament).
The bill prohibits promoting a child-free lifestyle in various media, including the Internet, films, documentaries, and advertisements. The goal is to prevent portraying life without children as attractive or fulfilling.
The bill was spearheaded by Chairman of the State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin and Federation Council Chairwoman Valentina Matviyenko, along with members of both houses of parliament. The draft includes fines of up to 400,000 rubles, about $4,319 for individuals, 800,000 rubles for public officials, and 5 million rubles for companies that violate the law.
The bill also prohibits the promotion of the child-free ideology to children. It empowers the government to take measures to protect children from such information and ensures that media cannot be used to advocate for a child-free lifestyle.
The backdrop to this policy is Russia’s declining birthrate. Between 2020 and 2021, the population decreased by 1.3 million, and the birthrate in the first half of this year hit its lowest point in 25 years. The UN has also predicted that Russia’s population could shrink to 120 million within 50 years.
Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that “the preservation of the Russian people is our top national priority. This is a matter of national importance.” He made headlines by encouraging sexual relations during lunch breaks and coffee times at workplaces as a way to promote population growth.
.){kind=link}