Russia’s ban on propaganda promoting a ‘childless lifestyle’ across all forms of media has passed the State Duma in a bid to address the country’s “catastrophic” demographic decline.
The ban covers anti-natalist messaging in movies, television, advertising and social media, and will hand out fines up to €4,000 euros, with civil servants facing double the punishment if they violate the new law.
“Everything needs to be done to make sure that new generations of Russians grow up with a focus on traditional family values,” said Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin after the law was rubber stamped in the lower house of the Russian parliament.
The legislation also restricts the international adoption of Russian children in countries where transgender ideology is dominant, prohibiting them from being adopted by parents who live in places where gender reassignment via medical surgery or changing official documents is legal.
“It is extremely important to prevent any encroachment on the possible change of gender by any means in case of adoptions to other countries,” said Volodin.