Nothing “anti children” series

Russia wants to have children ” be fashionable“Not only that. A few months ago Vladimir Putin acknowledged that it aspires to be common to meet large families in the country, with seven or even 10 members,” as it used to be “, Apostilled. With that purpose the Kremlin has deployed a range of measures ranging from the delivery of Aid to families to Declare war To abortion, advance as much as possible motherhood or directly muteto those who defend a lifestyle without children.

Now to that arsenal of measures will add another: nothing of films or series in which that same idea comes, the possibility of leading a life free of offspring.

What happened? That the Kremlin has decided to close the door to the series and films that, in his opinion, can harm one of their great objectives: refloat birth of the country. Parlaméntskaya Gazetathe Federal Assembly Magazine has published An article in which he reveals that the Ministry of Culture will deny the distribution certificate in Russia to those works that “promote” life without children or “propaganda” related to the subject.

It is a measure similar to that applied, for example to films with pornographic content, violent and bloody scenes or “demonstration of non -traditional sexual preferences.” Parliament magazine Precise In addition, the order was published on May 15 and will enter into force in September. With it, he insists, the organism does nothing but adapt to the norm that already prohibits disseminating ideas contrary to procreation.

What standard is that? One of the tools with which the Kremlin tries to raise the birth of the country. As remember own Parlaméntskaya Gazetain September of last year there was a bill in Russia that proposed to restrict the dissemination of ideas contrary to paternity.

The proposal came endorsed by heavyweights of the Duma, such as Vyacheslav VolodinPresident of the Chamber, and was approved months later together with a series of changes in the Code of Administrative Infractions that contemplate fines for those who do not meet that pattern. To be more precise, sanctions of 400,000 rubles (4,400 euros) for individuals, 800,000 (8,800 euros) for officials and up to five million for companies, about 55,200 euros.

What series will be affected? The Order of the Ministry of Culture will not enter into force until September, which is when the criteria to classify the works that do not pass the cut will be set. “Based on this, the agency will block content on the Internet,” Collect the Gazettethat advances in any case that the Russian authorities will focus on those pieces that encourage not having children, raise “distorted ideas” at a social level or transfer a negative image of pregnancy, motherhood or paternity.

In those cases the films risk disappearing from online platforms or blocked, regardless of when they have been released. “In each specific case the decision is made by experts,” Concrete Alexander Yushchenkoof the Information Policy Committee of the State Duna.

Are there concrete examples? Although it makes it clear that the Russian regulator (Roskomnadzor) has not yet carried out any official analysis, Parliamentskaya Gazeta He has launched a couple of titles that help understand where the shots will go.

“In autumn of 2025 films that in one way or another contain information about people without children or with a similar ideology could disappear from platforms. For example (…), among them the popular series may be ‘House of Cards’in which Claire heroine always puts his career before. “Another example he refers to is’Sex in New York ‘focusing on the character of Samantha.

Are they the only ones? No. The publication suggests More titles. For example, Brienne’s character in ‘Game of Thrones’ Or even points to one of Hollywood’s most popular sagas, inspired by JK Rowling’s youth novels. “Even in the harmless saga of Harry Potter We believe to find an indication of Childfree: Professor McGonagall had no children “, Point out the magazinealthough he adds: “We must recognize that it is not clear if it was a conscious choice or if something did not work.”

How bad is Russian birth? His figures are not good. And that access to their demographic statistics It has been complicated coinciding precisely with the “puncture” of birth. According to ROSSTAT data cited by Idhusduring the first two months of this year the country counted 195,400 births, 3% less than in 2024.

The demographer Alexéi Raksha estimates that in February, a particularly bad month, the Russian birth rate stood at its lowest level since the 19th century. That panorama is aggravated with 331,100 deaths registered in a country at war with Ukraine (the conflict has generated Thousands of casualties Between both sides), which has resulted in a loss of population.

The graphics The World Group shows that the country’s total census has fallen over the last years, moving away from the 150 million inhabitants that reached in the early 90s. In 2023, and without counting the territories occupied in Ukraine, it is 144 million. Some projections estimate that in just two decades that figure will have dropped to 132 million and in the worst stage at the beginning of the next century It will have stayed at 83.

“Let it be fashionable again”. Kremlin’s position before these figures is clear. A few months ago Putin It was set as a goal That his government makes it possible for “having many children to be fashionable again”, with large families that help the country’s demographic engine not flu.

With that purpose Moscow has deployed a wide range of measures, just as other nations have done with their demography in low hours, Like China either South Korea. In the case of Russia that recipe book “pronatality” includes aid to families, a position tougher with abortion and controversial decisions, such as Incentives For pregnancy among young people or measures that seek to silence the “propaganda” Against birth.

“Protect from ideology”. “It is important to protect people, especially the younger generations, from the ideology about the lack of children imposed on them on the Internet, in the media, cinema and advertising,” advocated last year Volodin, president of the Duma. Now to that battery of measures is added another focused precisely on the life models exposed in the cinema: no films or series in which satisfied women are seen who put their career before maternity.

Image | Governmentza (Flickr)

In Xataka | Throughout Europe, birth rate collapses as soon as women begin to earn more money. Except in Sweden