In former Soviet countries from Russia to Armenia, being a mother is promoted by church and state as the most important achievement for women. Various governments in the region are actively encouraging women to have more children, including through new financial incentives.
In early 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke of a "very difficult demographic period" and pledged state funding for new mothers as part of a bid to accelerate the country’s birth rate. "Russia's fate and its historical outlook depend on how many of us there are," he said.
Given Putin’s obsession with the reproduction of Russian women, you might expect the government to ensure that childbirth is a safe and positive experience. But pregnant women face unacceptable dangers and mistreatment giving birth – and COVID-19 restrictions have made this worse.
