Russian President Vladimir Putin officially enacted a new law on Saturday that prohibits the adoption of Russian children by individuals from countries where gender transition is permitted.
This move is part of a broader set of policies that aim to restrict the rights of sexual minorities while promoting traditional family values within the country.
Additionally, Putin gave his approval to legislation that bans materials perceived to encourage a child-free lifestyle.
These measures were previously ratified by both chambers of the Russian parliament and reflect ongoing governmental efforts to uphold conservative ideals.
Vyacheslav Volodin, Speaker of the lower house of parliament and one of the bill’s architects, stated in a July Telegram post that it is crucial to mitigate the “possible dangers” that adopted children could face due to gender reassignment in other nations.
The ban on adoption would impact at least 15 nations, primarily situated in Europe, and also includes Australia, Argentina, and Canada.
Notably, U.S. citizens have faced a ban on adopting Russian children since 2012.
The other legislation sanctioned on Saturday targets what its supporters refer to as propaganda against parenthood, imposing fines that could reach as much as 5 million rubles (approximately $50,000).
Advocates of this bill assert that discouraging childbearing is part of what they perceive as Western initiatives aimed at weakening Russia through population decline.
In recent years, both Putin and key officials have been vocal advocates for traditional values in opposition to Western liberalism.
As the nation faces a declining population, Putin has called for larger families, even suggesting that women should consider having as many as eight children.
Last year, Russia implemented a ban on gender-transition medical procedures, and the Supreme Court classified the LGBTQ+ movement as extremist.
In 2022, Putin also signed legislation that prohibits the distribution of LGBTQ+ content to individuals of all ages, extending a previous ban that was initially limited to minors.
Since initiating military action in Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has persistently characterized the West as “satanic,” blaming it for attempting to subvert Russia by promoting liberal ideologies.
Independent journalists, activists, and dissidents in Russia have faced escalated government pressure in recent years, a trend that has intensified with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Many NGOs and individuals have been labeled as “foreign agents,” a designation that subjects them to heightened government scrutiny and carries significant negative implications.