Russia Considers Abortion Restrictions amid Shift towards Conservative Values
In a significant move towards conservative values, Russia is considering imposing new restrictions on abortion, a practice that has been legal and widely available in the country. President Vladimir Putin, who has embraced the Russian Orthodox Church, is emphasizing traditional family values as a means to differentiate his country from Western social attitudes, particularly towards LGBTQ+ rights.
The possibility of imposing abortion restrictions has sparked outrage among many who view it as a throwback to the era of Joseph Stalin when abortion was banned in 1936. At that time, women resorted to illegal and unsafe procedures, with horrifying accounts of abortions being carried out using makeshift tools. The idea of returning to such conditions has left people surprised and indignant.
Although abortions were legalized after Stalin’s death in 1953, the Soviet government did not endorse contraceptives. Abortion became a common solution for unwanted pregnancies, despite the often terrible conditions at clinics. Pain relief was in short supply, privacy was non-existent, and women endured excruciating pain during the procedure.
In the late 1980s, during Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms, a movement for family planning and better birth control gained momentum. President Boris Yeltsin also funded family planning and birth control programs in the 1990s. However, conservative opposition led to a decline in federal funding, even though abortion regulations remained relatively lenient. Women could terminate a pregnancy until 12 weeks without conditions, and until 22 weeks for various social reasons.
The first signs of a government effort to reduce abortion rates came in 2003 when authorities restricted access to abortion. Conservative lawmakers proposed more restrictions in 2011, such as requiring women to obtain permission from their husbands or parents and implementing mandatory waiting periods. However, only a couple of these proposals were adopted, allowing doctors to refuse abortions based on personal beliefs and introducing a waiting period of 48 hours to a week.
Further regulations were implemented in 2015-2016, which required doctors to offer pregnant women the chance to listen to the fetal heartbeat and view ultrasound images. The consent form for abortion was also modified to emphasize the risks and the preference for carrying a pregnancy to term.
Recently, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova called for a review of abortion laws to potentially ban abortions for those under 18 without parental consent. Health Minister Mikhail Murashko has expressed support for an abortion ban in private clinics, where up to 20% of abortions have taken place in recent years.
As Russia contemplates greater restrictions on abortion, the country finds itself at a crossroads between conservative values and women’s reproductive rights. The proposed changes have ignited debates about individual freedom, women’s autonomy, and the role of the government in reproductive healthcare.
While some argue that stricter regulations are necessary to address Russia’s declining population, others fear a return to unsafe and illegal practices that characterized the Stalinist era. The opposing opinions reflect a deep divide within Russian society, highlighting the complexities and challenges faced by a nation grappling with its social values and demographic concerns.
