Russian lawmakers in the lower house of parliament, the Duma, have passed a new piece of legislation that prohibits the promotion of opting out of having children.
The bill, which was unanimously approved, applies to content in media, online platforms, advertising, and films that advocate for a "rejection of childbearing."
The authors of the bill clarified that it is not intended to penalize individuals for their personal choices or lifestyles, but rather to target the promotion of such ideas. However, it remains unclear how authorities will draw the line between personal expression and promotion of the child-free lifestyle.
Under the new law, those found guilty of spreading "child-free propaganda" could face fines of up to 400,000 rubles (approximately US$4,000) for individuals, and up to 5 million rubles (around US$51,000) for businesses.
Additionally, the bill includes a clause allowing for the deportation of foreign nationals found guilty of distributing the prohibited material.
The "child-free propaganda" bill now awaits approval from the upper house of parliament on Nov. 20, after which it will be sent to President Vladimir Putin for signing into law.
This move comes as Russia grapples with a declining birth rate, which official data in September showed had fallen to its lowest level in 25 years, while mortality rates have risen amid the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine.
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