The lower house of parliament in Russia has just approved a bill outlawing ‘propaganda’ that discourages people from having children, with fines of up to five million roubles imposed for spreading such information. Supporters of the bill argue that public arguments against having children are part of Western efforts to weaken Russia by encouraging population decline. President Vladimir Putin and other top officials have called for traditional values and larger families as Russia’s population decreases. Some lawmakers believe that anti-child propaganda is part of a Western-led hybrid war against Russia.
This new legislation comes on the heels of previous laws restricting LGBTQ information and adoption by citizens of countries where gender transitioning is legal. Mixed reactions have followed the passage of this bill, with some conservative voices supporting it as a way to combat what they see as a pathology, while women’s rights activists point to economic factors as the main reason for declining birth rates.
Critics of the bill argue that it is an attempt to further control society and silence dissenting voices. The bill still requires two more readings in the State Duma and the upper house’s approval before being sent to Putin for final approval. This latest move adds to a series of restrictive laws in Russia that are tightening control over society and limiting freedom of expression.
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