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A Russian State Duma deputy, Nina Ostanina, recently sparked controversy by urging Russian women to remain loyal to local men and avoid marrying foreign nationals, particularly Chinese men. Her comments, made during an interview with Russian media, have drawn mixed reactions domestically and internationally.
Ostanina emphasized that while the Soviet Union and Russia have never explicitly prohibited international marriages, the current geopolitical climate requires solidarity. "In this critical period of the war with Ukraine, Russian women should support their male compatriots who are fighting on the front lines," she said. "They should not abandon them for foreign men."
Ostanina's comments come against the backdrop of a growing trend in cross-national unions between Russian women and Chinese men. According to official data, over 70,000 Russian women were married to Chinese men by 2021. This number has reportedly surged since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, partly due to the Western sanctions imposed on Russia.
These sanctions have led to a significant rise in Russian women traveling to China for tourism, work, or education. Popular destinations like Sanya in Hainan have seen an influx of Russian visitors, and Russian women are increasingly visible in these areas.
Ostanina’s statement has ignited debates online and drawn various reactions from netizens. Some support her stance, seeing it as a call for national unity during a time of conflict. "Russian men are sacrificing their lives on the battlefield. It's only fair for women to stand by them," wrote one commenter.
Others criticized her comments as outdated and discriminatory. "Love knows no borders. It's unfair to restrict women from pursuing happiness just because of nationality," another user argued.
Chinese netizens have also weighed in on the matter, many finding Ostanina’s remarks overly politicized. "If they love each other, nationality shouldn’t matter," commented one Weibo user. Another joked, "Perhaps she’s worried that Chinese men are too charming!"
