Joseph Isangura
Russia has banned the adoption of Russian children by citizens of countries where gender reassignment surgery is legal.
This legislation, approved by both houses of parliament, is expected to be signed into law by President Vladimir Putin.
The new measure targets approximately 15 countries, including Canada, Australia, and numerous European nations, whose laws permit gender transition procedures. Lawmakers supporting the bill argue that the policy is necessary to protect children from what they describe as potential risks associated with gender reassignment in adoptive countries. This builds on existing legislation, including a 2012 adoption ban targeting U.S. citizens after diplomatic tensions escalated between Moscow and Washington.
Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russia’s lower house and one of the bill’s authors, emphasized that eliminating risks associated with “gender reassignment” was crucial for safeguarding adopted children. This ban aligns with President Putin’s broader push for traditional family values, particularly in the face of Russia’s declining population.
In conjunction with the adoption ban, lawmakers also passed legislation criminalizing the dissemination of material encouraging people to remain child-free.
Offenders could face fines of up to 5 million rubles (approximately $50,000). Proponents of the law argue that campaigns promoting child-free lifestyles contribute to population decline, which they view as part of an alleged “Western agenda” to weaken Russia.
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President Putin has increasingly framed Russia’s demographic challenges as a national priority, calling on families to have more children and advocating policies to promote larger households. In 2023, Russia banned gender-transition procedures altogether, and the Supreme Court declared the LGBTQ+ movement an extremist ideology, further illustrating the government’s hardline stance on progressive social issues.
Critics, both domestically and internationally, have condemned the measures as discriminatory, targeting LGBTQ+ individuals and undermining basic human rights. Activists argue that the adoption restrictions and anti-child-free laws unfairly stigmatize diverse family structures while limiting options for Russian children awaiting homes.
The ban has sparked concerns of increased isolation for Russia on the global stage. Many of the targeted countries, particularly in Europe and North America, have expressed unease over Moscow’s policies, which appear to further entrench ideological divisions.
