Record-Breaking Divorce Rates in Russia; Struggle with the Public to Strengthen Family Foundations

Last year, Vladimir Putin designated 2024 as the 'Year of the Family' in Russia, and many laws aimed at strengthening 'traditional values' were passed, with multiple steps taken by the government seemingly in this direction. However, official statistics indicate that in 2024, only two out of every ten marriages were successful, with eight resulting in divorce. How Russian authorities are combating divorce: According to official statistics, approximately 550,000 divorces were registered in Russia in 2020, and by 2024, the number of divorces exceeded 700,000. Elena Mikhailova, an advisor to the director of the government-affiliated Sociological Studies Center, stated in an interview with the official TASS news agency that last year, for every ten new marriages, eight divorces were registered in Russia. She described this rate as a 'grim and unprecedented record' and added that, based on this indicator, Russia has reached the third highest divorce rate in the world. The main reason for the rising divorce trend in Russia, according to her, is the 'decline of family values.' This is occurring despite 2024 being declared the 'Year of the Family' in Russia. In Vladimir Putin's decree, it was stated: 'In 2024, steps must be taken to further strengthen family values.' Politicians and Kremlin-controlled media have heavily promoted this issue, employing various initiatives such as increasing financial aid and reducing taxes for families with children and pregnant students, as well as penalizing couples who intend to divorce. Additionally, new benefits have been proposed for 'Hero Mothers' (women with three or more children). Under the president's decree, 75 billion rubles (approximately 700 million dollars) were allocated for 'family support.' In comparison, over 13 trillion rubles (6.2% of GDP) were spent on war expenses. Vitaly Milonov, a controversial lawmaker in the Duma, suggested that 'deployment to the front lines in Ukraine' should be a punishment for divorce, but his proposed bill was not passed. The Duma is currently reviewing a bill that, if passed, would require courts to 'reconcile' spouses who have decided to divorce. According to this bill, psychological counseling for three months would be mandatory for any couple unwilling to continue their married life, and if they have children, the number of mandatory sessions with a psychiatrist would be increased. In this bill, this counseling is referred to as 'retraining.' From the perspective of Russian officials, restrictions on abortion are seen as a primary tool in combating the demographic crisis. In the final days of 2024, an amendment to the 'Protection of the Health of Russian Citizens' law was registered in the Duma, defining 'the right to life for every Russian citizen before and after birth.' Human rights defenders are concerned that with the final approval of this law, abortion will be declared a crime in Russia. Abortion has not been completely banned in Russia yet, but in many regions, it has been prohibited in private clinics, and there is ample evidence that public clinics refrain from performing abortions even with medical prescriptions for fear of facing penalties from the Ministry of Health. Numerous reports indicate that in many cases, women seeking abortions have been coerced into 'discussions with a priest' or counseling with a psychiatrist. Last fall, a documentary about abortion was produced by a religious organization affiliated with the Orthodox Church, and the Ministry of Education recommended that this film be shown in schools and universities. The news of a complete surgical abortion video that students in a school in the city of Ukha were forced to watch sparked widespread protests from civil organizations. In some regions, fertility tests have been considered a 'free option' for infertile women. In response to these innovations, many people in Russia have flocked to pharmacies. According to the economic newspaper 'Vedomosti,' in the first six months of last year, residents of the Russian Federation purchased contraceptives worth approximately 20 billion rubles (about 170 million dollars), which is a record for the past five years. The banning of the 'International LGBTQ Movement,' an organization that does not exist, as a 'terrorist organization' by the Supreme Court of Russia, which took effect at the beginning of 2024, has led to a widespread and relentless crackdown on sexual and gender minorities in the country. Naturally, family formation by LGBTQ individuals in Russia is out of the question. The adoption of orphaned Russian children as children by citizens of countries that recognize marriage rights for LGBTQ individuals has also been prohibited. Additionally, under recent restrictions, any reference to 'voluntary childlessness' has been declared a criminal offense; the term 'voluntary childlessness' dates back to the 1970s and describes individuals who have consciously decided not to have children. However, no movement or organization exists to gather these individuals. Alongside dozens of laws and regulations imposing various restrictions on Russian citizens, no laws have been considered to limit domestic violence. Nina Stanina, head of the Duma Committee for the Defense of Family Values, recently called the passage of this law during the Year of the Family 'unthinkable' and claimed that this law 'is harmful and causes irreparable damage to family values.' Human rights organizations estimate that 'Russia witnesses one domestic violence incident every ten minutes, and on average, at least three women are killed every day, often at the hands of family men.' The 'Year of the Family' amidst war: Sociologists consider the rise in divorce rates and the decline in birth rates as features observable in most countries around the world. They believe that the war against Ukraine has not directly impacted birth rates, but the root of the demographic crisis in Russia dates back years. The severe decline in birth rates in the 1990s has exacerbated current problems. However, it is evident that the continuous decrease in the number of men does not help family growth. Tens of thousands of men have been killed in the war against Ukraine, and many of those who have returned from the front lines are unable to continue a normal life. Experts believe that anxiety and concerns about economic instability amid war also negatively affect birth rates. According to the publication 'Kholod,' based on an analysis of internet searches last year, Russian women often seek ways to encourage their husbands to fight, as the payments for contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense are dozens of times higher than the average salary of an employee in the country. Conversely, women who demand their husbands return from the front lines have formed the 'Council of Mothers and Wives' and have been accused of 'unpatriotism.' Last year, this organization was declared a 'foreign agent,' and its activities were banned in Russia. Political propaganda among children, teenagers, and young adults is another tool of government pressure on families. Since last year, 'patriotism' classes have been held from kindergarten, and mandatory teaching of 'family principles' has begun in schools. According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 'It is evident that war stimulates conflicts within families'; the report states that parents who hold anti-war views are forced to lead a duplicitous life and teach their children hypocrisy so that they do not mention opposition to the war in conversations outside the family. Dozens of anti-war teenagers have been arrested in Russia on charges of 'terrorism.' The youngest among them, Arseny Turbin, a 15-year-old, was sentenced to five years in prison for distributing notes containing slogans protesting Putin's policies.