The head of the State Council Commission on Social Policy spoke out against abortions in private clinics

Governor of the Novgorod Region, head of the State Council Commission on Social Policy Andrei Nikitin believes that abortions should not be allowed in private clinics. In his opinion, they are not interested in “confidential conversations” with clients. Mr. Nikitin also believes that the opinion of men should be taken into account on the issue of abortion, because this is “a question of equal rights.”

“The topic of abortion has been incredibly loud lately. She’s complex. The first question, and I don’t have an answer to it, is from what moment does a person become a person, and abortion becomes murder? Each of us probably has our own answer. The second question is whether abortions in private clinics should be limited? Here my answer is clear,” said Mr. Nikitin “Vedomosti”.

According to the governor, before an abortion, women need to “talk openly about the risks of terminating a pregnancy, as well as about state support measures for motherhood and childhood.” However, the main goal of the clinics, in his opinion, is to make a profit.

Mr. Nikitin considers the risks of the growth of the gray abortion market to be a “fair concern.” “On the other hand, what about, for example, the rights of fathers and those children who are still in an embryonic state? And with women’s rights?” he said. The governor believes that the public discussion on this matter is transforming: “150 years ago it was normal that out of 12 children, four would survive. This was not perceived by society as a problem. Now the situation is different – the death of a child causes a wide public outcry.”

The Novgorod region is studying the experience of other regions on this issue. First of all, it is planned to ensure “guaranteed information to women about all risks, opportunities and prospects in the event of an abortion.” Mr. Nikitin also stated that “the opinion of men should be taken into account in a situation of reproductive choice.” In addition, he advocates tightening parental responsibility for non-participation in raising children and non-payment of child support.

In mid-November, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Kirill, called for the adoption of a federal law banning “inducement to abortion.” This is necessary, he believes, because doctors “sometimes, for various reasons, including commercial ones, persuade a woman to have an abortion.” The Patriarch also called for the exclusion of artificial abortion from the list of services provided by private clinics in Russia. In some Russian regions, private clinics have become refuse carry out abortions. Representatives of the Association of Private Clinics of St. Petersburg warn about the risks of the growth of the shadow sector. Petitions were created in the Kaliningrad and Nizhny Novgorod regions demanding that “misogynistic” actions be stopped.

Read more about the discussion in the Kommersant article. “Nip it in the bud”.

Leonid Uvarchev