Lvova-Belova considers the right guideline to be the refusal of private clinics to provide abortions

The Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, considers the refusal to perform abortions in private clinics to be the “correct guideline.” Taking the procedure out of private practice will allow the state to better provide support to mothers, including psychological support, she said.

As Ms. Lvova-Belova told TASS, private clinics allow abortions without the preliminary work of a psychologist and bypassing the “time of silence.”

“Quiet time” is a special time allocated to a woman to make a decision about an abortion. If the pregnancy is less than 11 weeks, then an abortion is prohibited within seven days from the date of admission to the clinic. If the pregnancy is more than 11 weeks, the woman will be given 48 hours to think it over.

The Ombudsman for Children’s Rights stated that she does not consider herself to be a “supporter of categorical measures,” but emphasizes that the state needs to “change the consciousness of women” and convey to them that abortion has negative consequences.

According to Ms. Lvova-Belova, the removal of abortion from private practice will allow the state to provide mothers with maximum comprehensive psychological and material support, as well as assistance in self-determination. She noted that the measures should not be restrictive; it is necessary to inform women about the measures of social support by the state for families with children. According to the Ombudsman, a number of regions are ready to involve representatives of religious organizations in working with pregnant women.

November 16 Senator Olga Kovitidi suggested introduce criminal liability for inducing abortion. She emphasized that large families in Russia should become “the norm of life,” but noted that women should want to give birth. In turn, in Tatarstan it was proposed allow medical personnel to refuse to perform abortions for non-medical reasons.

Crimean authorities offered introduce fines for inducing women to have abortions. Previously, the region reported that all private clinics on the peninsula refused from operations for artificial termination of pregnancy. This fall, administrative punishment for “inducing” abortions introduced in Mordovia and Tver region. A similar initiative has already been submitted to the Duma of the Tambov region.

The restriction of abortion in Russia is actively supported by the Russian Orthodox Church. Last week, Patriarch Kirill called for the adoption of a federal law banning “inducement to abortion.”

More details in the material “Not everyone is an abortionist”.

Alexandra Goroshilova