Kurgan, Kurgan Province, Russia, November 29, 2024
Photo: kurganvera.ru
A southern Russian region has introduced criminal liability for pressuring pregnant women to have abortions.
The Duma of the Kurgan Region, part of the Urals Federal District, sharing a border with Kazakhstan, approved the legislation on November 26 in two readings. The new fine introduces substantial fines for individuals and organizations who pressure women to terminate their pregnancies, reports the Kurgan Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The law was initiated by the Kurgan regional branch of the Union of Orthodox Women, with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Daniel of Kurgan and Belozersk.
Under the new legislation, actions intended to pressure pregnant women into having abortions through persuasion, offers, bribery, deception, or demands will be punishable by fines.
The penalties vary depending on the status of the offender: Russian citizens face fines of $45-$90 (5,000-10,000 rubles), while foreign citizens will be charged $90-$180 (10,000020,000 rubles). Officials found in violation of the law will be subject to fines ranging from $230-$460 (25,000-50,000 rubles), and legal entities face the heaviest penalties of $925-$1,850 (100,000 to 200,000 rubles).
The law makes a distinction regarding medical professionals, specifically stating that doctors informing pregnant women about medical indications for abortion do not violate the law, provided such information is shared in accordance with Russian Federation healthcare legislation.
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The letter from Natalia Kataytseva, chair of the Kurgan Union of Orthodox Women, to the Kurgan Regional Duma chairman Dmitry Frolov highlights Russia’s high abortion rates, citing UN data showing 53.7 abortions per 1,000 women, with 5 out of 10 pregnancies ending in termination. According to Rosstat, Russia recorded over 50.6 million abortions between 1991-2021, excluding those performed in private clinics.
The letter argues that women’s abortion decisions are heavily influenced by Western cultural pressure, which presents abortion as a simple “solution” or “right,” even when circumstances might be favorable for childbirth. It criticizes the low public awareness about pregnancy and fetal development, despite readily available information.
The document identifies several concerning factors: lack of legal regulations on abortion information, propaganda promoting childlessness, declining moral values, and the promotion of consumerism. It particularly emphasizes that pro-abortion messaging is part of a “hybrid war” against Russia, with foreign-funded movements promoting abortion rights and social media groups pushing anti-family values while suppressing information about abortion’s health risks.
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