In annexed Crimea, all private clinics “voluntarily” refused to perform abortions

All private clinics in annexed Crimea have refused to perform abortions. This was reported by the press service of the regional Ministry of Health.

“Thus, artificial termination of pregnancy in Crimea will be carried out only in state medical organizations,” the message says. The head of the ministry, Konstantin Skorupsky, clarified that previously the authorities suggested that the heads of commercial clinics refuse to perform abortions in order to “contribute to improving the demographic situation” in the region.

“Colleagues positively assessed this initiative and today all private clinics in Crimea have officially notified the regional Ministry of Health of their voluntary refusal to provide abortion services,” Skorupsky said.

The message from the Crimean Ministry of Health clarifies that abortion procedures will continue to be carried out in state clinics, but only after psychological pre-abortion counseling, which is necessary so that “the woman can make a balanced and deliberate decision.” In addition, women wishing to have an abortion will be informed about existing social support measures.

According to the department, over the nine months of 2023 in Crimea, just over a thousand women underwent pre-abortion counseling, of which 219 refused an abortion.

Representatives of the Russian authorities have been talking for several years about the need to introduce various restrictions on abortions and medical termination of pregnancy.

The last time in November 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on this topic, saying that the problem of abortion in the country can be solved in two ways - by banning the sale of drugs for abortion or by strengthening support for families.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Health tightened control over the circulation of drugs for medical termination of pregnancy, and the authorities of Mordovia and the Tver region introduced fines for “inducing” women to have abortions. A similar bill has already been submitted to the parliament of the Tambov region.

It was also reported that a third of private clinics in Tatarstan and some commercial clinics in the Chelyabinsk region refused to perform abortions after a corresponding request from local authorities.

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