On December 18, Metropolitan Peter of Orenburg and Saraktash delivered a report on the preservation of traditional values at a session of the Council for Inter-Ethnic Relations and Interaction with Religious Organizations under the Governor.
According to the priest, Russia lacks laws protecting women from "reproductive coercion aimed at forcing an abortion." His proposal to introduce a law banning the "encouragement" of abortions in Orenburg Oblast was supported by Governor Denis Pasler.
"A woman’s decision to terminate a pregnancy is not always driven by her unpreparedness for motherhood. Often, this tragic decision is made under pressure from doctors, employers, and even relatives," said Metropolitan Peter.
In late November, the Kurgan Oblast Duma introduced fines for "encouraging abortions" at the request of the local branch of the Union of Orthodox Women, which justified the measure as a response to the "hybrid war against Russia."
Similar laws have been adopted in at least 14 regions of Russia. Currently, the introduction of fines for "encouraging" abortions is being considered in Astrakhan and Kirov Oblasts, as well as Krasnoyarsk Krai.