Russian deputies adopted a law on Tuesday banning the promotion of a child-free lifestyle, against a backdrop of demographic crisis amplified by the conflict in Ukraine and the Kremlin’s defense of “traditional values”. This text must still be validated by the Upper House on November 20 and signed by President Vladimir Putin.
According to the law, individuals accused of engaging in this promotion of a child-free lifestyle, in media, films, advertisements, would risk a fine of 400,000 rubles (approximately 3,600 francs), officials said. double, while for legal entities the sanction could be increased to 5 million rubles (around 45,000 francs).
“We are adopting this bill to protect our young people from unnecessary ideologies,” commented Nina Ostanina, chairwoman of the family policy committee of the Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament.
In addition to the defense of so-called “traditional” values, the text intends to remedy the deep demographic crisis in Russia, inherited from the Soviet era, but which the authorities have never managed to stop despite pronatalist measures which have not had the expected effects.
In July, the Kremlin recognized a situation that was “catastrophic for the future of the nation.” In 2023, the fertility rate in Russia was 1.41 children per woman of childbearing age, according to initial estimates from the Russian statistics agency (Rosstat), cited by the economic daily RBC. For comparison, Switzerland finds itself in an even more unfortunate position, with a rate rising to 1.33 children per woman in 2023. In France, it stands at 1.68 per woman according to figures from the ‘Insee.
