A judge in the republic of Mordovia has issued Russia’s first fine under a regional law banning the “coercion” of women into having abortions, an Orthodox-aligned anti-abortion group said Monday.
A magistrate judge in the city of Saransk fined a man 5,000 rubles ($63) for urging his then-girlfriend to terminate her pregnancy, according to the Women for Life group. The woman refused and later sought assistance from the organization, it added.
Mordovia was the first of now more than two dozen regions to ban what officials describe as the “coercion” of pregnant women into having an abortion. Those regional bans have come amid government efforts to counter Russia’s historically low birth rates.
Women for Life said it launched a chatbot encouraging women to report relatives, partners or medical workers who “advised” them to terminate a pregnancy.
Russian regional legislation defines “encouragement to have an abortion” as any attempt to pressure a pregnant woman into terminating her pregnancy through “persuasion, offers, bribery or deception.” Exceptions apply to doctors providing medical or social reasons for abortion.
Conservative lawmakers and activists with ties to the Russian Orthodox Church have pushed to extend similar restrictions nationwide, the exiled outlet Vyorstka reported earlier this year. The Kremlin has signaled openness to considering federal legislation, though officials have privately questioned its effectiveness.
Abortion in Russia remains legal on request up to the 12th week of pregnancy. The debate over restricting abortion access has intensified in recent years as the country confronts a demographic decline and the government promotes what it calls “traditional family values.”
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
