Russian lawmakers push through ban on childless 'propaganda'

A group of Russian lawmakers on Thursday approved legislation that would prohibit child-free "propaganda." 

"It is important to protect people, primarily the younger generation, from having the ideology of childlessness imposed on them on the internet, in the media, in movies, and in advertising," Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament, or Duma, said. 

"We continue to form a unified legal framework for the protection of children, families and traditional values," the Putin ally added.

The legislation was adopted during the bill's first of three required readings. 

'A war on ideological front,' says speaker of parliament 

Volodin argued during the reading there was a "war on the ideological front." The legislation carries echoes of the Russian Supreme Court ban on the international gay rights movement in 2023.

One Russian woman who spoke to DW about the legislation — what was still a proposed law at the time — said the news made her physically sick and that she saw it as yet another step in curtailing women's rights in Russia. 

Individual violators could face fines up to $4,000

Those who author content deemed childfree "propaganda" could be fined up to 400,000 rubles (€3,789; $4,117) in accordance with this law. Businesses that violate the law could pay as much as five million rubles in fines. 

Foreigners who violate the law could also face deportation. 

The approval of the law comes after official data published last month showed Russia's birth rate dropping to its lowest point in a quarter of a century.

Russian politician Elvira Aitkulova, one of the authors of the bill, said over 22% of Russian couples do not have kids. She believes that "manipulative technologies" are telling Russians that "not having children is the norm."

rm, wd/ab (AP, AFP)