“Putin clearly said”: what’s wrong with the abortion law

A draft ban on artificial termination of pregnancy has yet been prepared

So will abortions in private clinics still be banned or not? State Duma deputies added intrigue. First, they reported in the media that they had prepared a letter criticizing this bill, and then they denied that this letter had been written at all.

On Monday morning, information appeared that the State Duma Committee on Health Protection, having analyzed the positions of the Ministry of Health, Roszdravnadzor and public organizations, came to the conclusion that it is necessary to preserve the right of a citizen of the Russian Federation to choose a doctor and a medical organization for artificial termination of pregnancy, as well as to continue work to improve obstetric and gynecological services and offices for medical and social support of pregnant women. That is, to summarize: commercial clinics cannot be closed, but it is necessary to educate Russian women about the benefits of maintaining pregnancies.

The document also said that it is necessary to thoroughly study the bill itself, since its adoption could lead to a sharp jump in illegal abortions in women.

The committee allegedly sent a corresponding letter to the speaker of the lower house of parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin. The news was published by a number of serious publications, and it was emphasized that they had the letter in their possession.

However, a few hours later the State Duma Committee on Health Protection categorically denied the authorship.

“I have not seen this letter, the issue was not discussed at the committee,” first deputy chairman of the committee Leonid Ogul told the media.

So who should we believe? The bill itself was introduced on December 13. The latest changes in it, which were reflected in the “System for Supporting Legislative Activities,” are dated December 14, 13:42. It is written that the package of documents has been sent to the Health Protection Committee – and that’s all. There is no question of any letter, no matter what it says. It is possible that it existed, but at some point the situation changed, and it was decided that it was not the time to play with the principle of non-interference by the state in the private lives of citizens – when Russia is in a demographic hole.

“MK” received inside information about what kind of confusion is happening.

“The bill will undoubtedly be adopted. Remember how difficult it was to pass the law banning surrogacy for foreigners or banning the issuance of certificates on the receipt of weapons by private clinics. Business didn’t want to do this either. But I had to. Now there is also a political decision,” MK spoke on condition of anonymity about the current situation.

Our speaker noted that the initiative is promoted by the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod and is personally supervised by the region’s leadership, which is on a “special account.” “If the bill had not been agreed upon at the very top, I think it would not have been born at all. Moreover, abortions in private clinics are prohibited on the initiative and from below – the regions themselves en masse and voluntarily one after another. Moreover, according to the latest VTsIOM polls, people support the opinion that the state should regulate the issue of abortion.”

“But the president spoke quite neutrally on this issue in his speech.

“The president must publicly stand above the fray. But Vladimir Putin clearly said that Russian traditional values ​​are a large family. And that a child is a gift from God for a woman and a man, so there cannot be any discrepancies here.

Indeed, Russian society is increasingly inclined to the position that the authorities should decide everything for it – on any problems, including how, to whom and where to terminate a pregnancy. According to VTsIOM analysts, over the past year the balance of public opinion has noticeably shifted towards state regulation of abortion. 47% are in favor of restrictions, a year earlier this figure was 36%. This proposal is most supported by residents of rural areas (63%) with incomplete secondary education (64%), as well as residents of the Caucasian republics (65%). It is surprising that these are the same categories of citizens who can be directly affected by the topic of sudden, unplanned and unwanted pregnancy.