Russia Issues First Fine for Coercion to Abortion After Man Offered to Pay for Procedure

Russia has issued its first administrative fine under legislation prohibiting coercion to abortion. A resident of the city of Saransk was fined 5,000 rubles after offering to pay for his partner to terminate her pregnancy, according to the charitable foundation Women for Life.

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Doctors performing surgery

According to the foundation, the woman, who was under its care, informed the father of the children that she was pregnant with twins. In response, she immediately received a proposal to have an abortion.

"The man, according to the case materials, was not ready to have children and expressed his willingness to pay for the termination of the pregnancy. The woman categorically refused.”

In July 2025, the twins, Bogdan and Varvara, were born. During the legal proceedings and after evidence was presented, the children's father initially admitted his guilt but later denied the fact of coercion during the court hearing.

Legal Background

The case was heard in the Republic of Mordovia, which in 2023 became the first region in Russia to adopt a law banning the coercion of women into abortions. The legislation provides for administrative liability, including fines, for pressuring a woman to terminate a pregnancy.

According to calculations by RBC, by mid-November similar fines had already been introduced in more than 20 Russian regions, reflecting a broader trend toward tightening regional regulation in this area.

Broader Context

Supporters of the legislation argue that such measures are intended to protect women from psychological pressure and to ensure that decisions regarding pregnancy are made freely. Critics, however, warn that the laws could be difficult to enforce consistently and may lead to disputes over what constitutes coercion.

The Saransk case marks the first known instance of the new legal mechanism being applied in practice, setting a precedent for future enforcement across other regions of Russia.