In the Russian landscape, there has been a noticeable conservative shift that has resulted in a growing number of restrictions being placed on abortion rights. This trend is occurring concurrently with the active resistance of dedicated activists who are using methods such as petitions and protests to counteract these limitations.
In a city located in Russia's westernmost region, Kaliningrad, an impromptu gathering took place at a bookstore. Despite the short notice, the event managed to attract approximately 60 participants, many of whom were incensed by the efforts of a local lawmaker to prohibit abortions in private clinics.
The unexpectedly robust turnout on a weeknight was a source of surprise and encouragement for Dasha Yakovleva, one of the organizers of the gathering. Her astonishment was fueled by recent crackdowns on political activism under President Vladimir Putin's leadership.
Dasha Yakovleva, who is also the co-founder of the Feminitive Community women's group, lamented the current state of political action in Russia. She observed that political activism has been increasingly stifled, leaving kitchens as the last bastion of public expression. However, this gathering occurred in a well-known public space in Kaliningrad, allowing everyone to openly express their views on the abortion restrictions and why they consider them unjust and inappropriate.
Although abortion remains legal and readily available in Russia, attempts to curtail this right have ignited passionate opposition across the nation, which is leaning toward conservatism. Activists are mobilizing supporters to file official complaints, initiate online petitions, and even stage small-scale demonstrations.
While the proposal to ban abortion is currently limited to Kaliningrad, private clinics in other regions have already ceased providing abortion services. Nationwide, the Health Ministry has devised talking points for healthcare professionals to discourage women from terminating their pregnancies. Furthermore, forthcoming regulations are expected to severely limit access to emergency contraceptives and increase their cost.
Michele Rivkin-Fish, an anthropologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, noted a gradual erosion of abortion access and rights in Russia, drawing parallels with the United States, where a significant shift in abortion policy occurred following a Supreme Court decision.
In the Soviet era, stringent abortion laws forced some women to undergo the procedure multiple times due to difficulties in obtaining contraceptives. However, after the dissolution of the USSR, government initiatives and health experts promoted family planning and birth control, which led to a decline in abortion rates. During this period, laws allowed women to terminate pregnancies up to 12 weeks without any conditions and up to 22 weeks for various "social reasons," such as divorce, unemployment, or financial hardship.
Under President Putin, who has cultivated a strong alliance with the Russian Orthodox Church and championed "traditional values" and population growth, these abortion laws have changed. Health Minister Mikhail Murashko has criticized women for prioritizing education and careers over childbearing.
Over the years, the number of abortions in Russia decreased from 4.1 million in 1990 to 517,000 in 2021. Currently, abortion is legally allowed between 12 and 22 weeks only in cases of rape. Some regions implement "Days of Silence" during which public clinics do not provide abortion services. Women must wait 48 hours or even a week, depending on the pregnancy stage, between their initial appointment and the abortion to allow for reconsideration. Additionally, they are offered psychological consultations intended to discourage abortion, as outlined in state-issued guidelines reviewed by the Associated Press.
Health authorities have introduced an online "motivational questionnaire" outlining state support for women who choose to continue their pregnancies. However, the waiting periods are emotionally challenging for some patients, as they may experience pregnancy symptoms during that time.
In one region, state clinics referred women to a priest before permitting an abortion. While authorities asserted that the consultation was voluntary, some women claimed that they had to obtain a priest's approval to proceed with an abortion.
The anti-abortion push comes at a time when Russian women seem hesitant to have more children, a phenomenon attributed to the war in Ukraine and economic uncertainties. Sales of abortion pills in 2022 increased by 60%, but in the following year, they still remained 35% higher than pre-2022 levels. Sales of contraceptive medications have also risen in 2022-2023.
A recent decree from the Health Ministry restricted the circulation of abortion pills, specifically those used in the first trimester. This decree categorized mifepristone and misoprostol, which are used in these pills, as controlled substances requiring stringent record-keeping and storage.
While this decree primarily affects hospitals and clinics that dispense the pills, it will have implications for the availability of emergency contraceptives, often referred to as morning-after pills, taken shortly after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. Three out of six brands available in Russia contain mifepristone in a lower dose, meaning they will face severe restrictions when the decree takes effect on September 1, 2024. These pills will require a special prescription, and not all pharmacies will stock them.
The Health Ministry's stance on the inclusion of morning-after pills in the decree has been unclear. Although officials initially promised that these pills would not be affected, some pharmacies are already listing them as available only under strict prescription conditions. In response to the announced restrictions, activists have started stockpiling these pills to ensure availability in case of shortages.
According to senior lawmaker Pyotr Tolstoy, there is a concerted effort by lawmakers to enact a nationwide ban on abortion in private clinics, which have been the location for approximately 20% of abortions in recent years, according to state statistics.
Conservative lawmakers have attempted to impose such a ban in the past, but the Health Ministry now indicates a willingness to consider it. Irina Volynets, an abortion opponent and children's rights ombudswoman in the Tatarstan region, sees this as a hopeful development that may eventually lead to the removal of abortion procedures from private clinics. She also advocates for increased state support for women with children as an incentive to boost birth rates.
Regional authorities have made attempts to convince private clinics to cease offering abortions, with varying degrees of success. Kaliningrad is considering a region-wide ban, while Tatarstan reports that about a third of private clinics no longer provide abortions. In the Chelyabinsk region in the Urals, three clinics have agreed to halt abortion services.
Lina Zharin, a psychotherapist and activist in Kaliningrad, believes that pressure on women will continue to grow even without a total ban on abortions. She asserts that such pressure will intensify as time goes on. An online petition against the ban in Kaliningrad has garnered nearly 27,000 signatures.
In seven other regions, the Health Ministry is implementing a pilot project where gynecologists are encouraged to persuade women to reconsider their decision to have an abortion. A document obtained by the Associated Press outlines the language that doctors are instructed to use, including emphasizing that pregnancy is "a beautiful and natural condition for every woman," while abortion is portrayed as "harmful to your health and a risk of developing complications."
Natalya Moskvitina, founder of Women For Life, an organization that supports women who decide against abortion, has played a role in developing these instructions. She is introducing similar scripts for doctors in multiple regions. Her work in Mordovia led to a 40% reduction in the abortion rate, thanks to a law she helped draft that banned "encouraging" abortions. Her program focuses on congratulating women on their pregnancies and providing information on
support resources.
For women who have doubts about abortion, such conversations may aid them in making decisions. However, for others, these discussions could be uncomfortable and coercive.
For instance, Olga Mindolina, who was considering an abortion in 2020, was influenced by her interactions with a doctor and clinic staff who encouraged her to continue her pregnancy. Similarly, Anastasia, a Muscovite who sought an abortion in 2020, found it uncomfortable when a doctor urged her to change her mind, highlighting the diverse experiences and opinions surrounding abortion decisions.
Dr. Lyubov Yeroveyeva, a gynecologist who spearheaded family planning projects in the 1990s, emphasizes the importance of preventing unwanted pregnancies through education about birth control and making contraceptives widely available. Instead of trying to dissuade women from having abortions, authorities should focus on creating conditions where they don't feel compelled to seek one in the first place.
