Putin’s Answer to Russia’s Birth Rate Crisis: Early Marriage and War
During his annual “Direct Line” call-in show, Vladimir Putin advocated for Russians to emulate Caucasus traditions of early marriage to combat the country’s declining birth rate, citing Chechnya’s leader Ramzan Kadyrov as an example. This call came as Russia faces a severe demographic crisis, with the fertility rate significantly below replacement levels and birth rates at their lowest since 1999. Putin framed having children as a moral duty and has implemented “family-centered” strategies. These strategies include campaigns promoting large families and restricting content that encourages a child-free lifestyle.
John Q. Hosedrinker