Summarised by Centrist
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill banning the adoption of Russian children by individuals in countries that permit gender reassignment procedures.
“It is extremely important to eliminate possible dangers in the form of gender reassignment that adopted children may face in these countries,” stated Vyacheslav Volodin, a Russian politician who backed the legislation.
The law, which targets 15 nations including much of Western Europe, Canada, and Australia, is part of a broader effort to counter Western LGBTQ+ policies.
In tandem with the adoption restrictions, Putin approved a law imposing heavy fines for promoting “child-free propaganda,” a move aimed at boosting Russia’s dwindling birth rate. Offenders could face fines up to 5m rubles, or approximately USD$50,000.
Putin’s policies reflect his alignment with the Russian Orthodox Church and opposition to what he describes as “woke” Western ideologies. Puberty blockers and gender reassignment surgeries are already outlawed in Russia, where LGBTQ+ advocacy is classified as extremist. The Supreme Court has banned the distribution of materials promoting LGBTQ+ activities, regardless of the audience’s age.
Amidst the war with Ukraine, Putin has amplified rhetoric against Western cultural norms, referring to them as “Satanic.”
Editor’s note: New Zealanders have been barred from adopting Russian children since 2013, when Russia halted intercountry adoptions without a bilateral agreement. Negotiations for such an agreement ceased in 2017.
