## Russia Intensifies Pro-Life Policies and Penalizes Coercion
Russia is intensifying its pro-life policies and has begun sanctioning those who incite women to have abortions. Recently, more than **27 Russian regions** have passed laws criminalizing the act of pressuring a woman to undergo the procedure.
Under these laws, the Russian justice system is punishing anyone who persuades, offers money, threatens, deceives, or exerts pressure in any context to encourage an abortion. Fines for such actions can reach **200,000 rubles** (over €2,000).
* **Recent Precedent:** In a recent case, the Russian administration sanctioned a man in Saransk for inciting his girlfriend to have an abortion.
Towards a Total Ban?
The government is also taking preliminary steps that could lead to the total illegalization of abortion, which is currently permitted until the 12th week of pregnancy. This includes significant political pressure on medical facilities:
Private Clinics: According to *The Moscow Times*, **500 private clinics** across 70 regions have already "voluntarily" stopped performing abortions following political pressure.
Historical Shift: Russia has transitioned from being a pioneer in legalizing abortion (under the USSR)—reaching a peak of over **5.4 million abortions** in 1965 alone—to overtaking much of the West in its defense of the unborn.