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Russian lawmakers on Monday called for tougher anti-gay laws and the Kremlin ordered an expensive patriotic education program as Moscow pushes conservatives at home while its troops fight in Ukraine.
The Duma, the lower house of Russia’s parliament, held consultations on amendments to a 2013 law banning the exposure of minors to what authorities deemed “homosexual propaganda”.
The draft bill would further ban “denial of family values” and “promotion of non-traditional sexual orientation” at all ages.
Lawmakers believe the law needs to be strengthened amid Russia’s bitter confrontation with the West and its armed forces fighting next door.
Alexander Khinstein, a senior lawmaker and head of the Duma’s information committee, said the Ukrainian offensive gave the proposed law “new relevance”.
“Special operations happen not just on the battlefield, but in the minds and souls of people,” Kingstein said.
Banker and conservative media mogul Konstantin Malofeyev told the Duma hearing that passing the law was part of Russia’s war effort.
“War isn’t just on the battlefield. It’s also on our children’s smartphones, cartoons and movies,” Malofeev said.
“Our enemies really have propaganda of sodomy at the heart of their influence,” he said.
Duma spokesman Vyacheslav Volodin said the amendment was expected to be ratified this autumn.
Volodin said the law would “protect” Russians.
“It’s not about restricting rights, it’s about protecting them from publicity,” he said.
On the same day, President Vladimir Putin ordered his government to allocate 3.9 billion rubles ($63 million) a year to patriotic education programs.
This should include “digital content and multimedia products aimed at patriotic and spiritual education of children and adolescents,” according to the Kremlin’s website.
Under Putin, Russian schools have taught a pro-state version of history that erases the crimes of Stalinism while focusing on Russia’s military achievements.
Since the Russian leader sent troops to Ukraine in late February, the government has instituted a new curriculum in schools — “Conversations About What Matters” — aimed at instilling patriotism.
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