The penalties are part of a proposed bill targeting individuals and entities pressuring women into terminating pregnancies

Lawmakers in the Russian city of St. Petersburg have advanced a bill that would impose fines on individuals and organizations that coerce women into having abortions. The Legislative Assembly passed the measure on Wednesday in its second reading.

The legislation would penalize acts such as persuasion, bribery, deception or other pressure aimed at ending a pregnancy. Fines would range from 3,000 rubles ($40) for individuals to 50,000 rubles ($600) for officials and legal entities. Punishments can be imposed even if an abortion does not occur. Medical advice from a doctor based on social or health indications would not count as a violation.

The bill's explanatory note says it aims to support family and motherhood and tackle Russia's demographic problems. According to Rosstat, the country recorded 1.22 million births in 2024, down 3.4% from 2023, making it the worst year since 1999.

"Our demography is at such a low level that... it's a number one problem," said MP Pavel Krupnik, one of the sponsors of the bill. "According to statistics, 500,000 abortions were performed in 2024, of which only 25% were for medical reasons. Just imagine what we're doing ourselves." He added that many women lose the ability to have children after terminating a pregnancy.

The bill still needs final approval in a third reading to become law. Similar measures have passed in more than ten Russian regions, including Bryansk, where a comparable law takes effect on September 1. Authorities in Murmansk and Pskov have proposed alternative legislation to fight abortions, suggesting paying doctors bonuses for persuading women to keep their pregnancies. St. Petersburg lawmakers are currently weighing draft amendments to the Social Code to offer payments to pregnant college students to discourage them from delaying childbirth.

Abortions remain legal in Russia and are covered by national health insurance. Terminations are allowed up to 12 weeks on request, up to 22 weeks for social reasons, such as being the result of rape or in the case of death or disability of the husband, and at any stage for medical reasons.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said in March that efforts to prevent abortion led to more than 37,000 women choosing to carry their pregnancies to term last year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously opposed banning abortions, instead emphasizing the importance of creating favorable economic and social conditions to encourage people to have larger families and increase the birth rate.

(RT.com)