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A 29-year-old Russian woman has been fined 50,000 rubles ($500) for allegedly promoting a "childfree lifestyle" on social media, local authorities announced on Jan. 31. This marks the first recorded case under Russia’s new law banning "childfree propaganda."
The law, signed by President Vladimir Putin in November 2024, equates the promotion of a childfree lifestyle with the dissemination of "non-traditional sexual relations." Russia has been grappling with a declining birth rate, which peaked at 1.79 children per woman in 2015 but dropped to 1.46 in 2024. Experts warn that the country is facing a severe demographic crisis.
According to local authorities, the woman posted "misanthropic content" on her VKontakte account and failed to remove it after the law took effect. Screenshots allegedly from her page, shared in an official Telegram post, include a meme featuring American filmmaker Quentin Tarantino with the caption: "Making movies, not babies—that’s my motto." Other images reportedly show characters from TV shows and films making obscene gestures, though timestamps on these posts were blurred.
Legal analysts confirmed that this is the first known fine issued under the new law. They cautioned that the ruling could set a precedent for punishing individuals simply for discussing personal choices or the challenges of parenthood.
Russia’s childfree propaganda law is part of a broader push to reinforce conservative family values. It also includes provisions banning the adoption of Russian children by nationals from countries where gender transition surgeries are legal.
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