Russia Orthodox Church Official Proposes Reviving Stalin-Era Divorce Rules for Demographic Policy

A senior Russian Orthodox Church official has proposed reviving a Soviet-era decree to make divorce significantly harder in Russia, framing the move as a demographic necessity. Fyodor Lukyanov, chairman of the Patriarchal Commission on Family Affairs, Protection of Motherhood and Childhood, made the proposal at the Eastern Economic Forum in September 2024. Lukyanov argued that abortion and divorce must be made economically disadvantageous and pushed to the social margins through a coordinated effort by the state and business.

Lukyanov emphasized the need for a return to policies that were in place during the Soviet era, which he described as offering “a great deal of good that can be drawn upon given the current situation.” He specifically referenced Decree No. 118/11, issued by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in July 1944. Under this decree, divorce required a court ruling rather than a simple registry office filing, and proceedings could include interrogations by prosecutors. The decree’s provisions on marriage and divorce remained in force until 1965.

Lukyanov suggested that the Soviet leadership responded to the loss of 26 million people during World War II with demographic measures, which he argued Russia must now “retrieve and use.” He highlighted the complexity of the divorce procedure under the 1944 decree, which included two stages, a mandatory statement of grounds, the summoning of the spouse, and the calling of witnesses. He contrasted this with what he described as “today’s online divorce in our country.”

Lukyanov also raised questions about the official statistics on abortion, suggesting that a reported decline in their number reflects a fall in the population of women of reproductive age and possible manipulation of data. He pointed to Russia’s rate of recorded miscarriages—44% of pregnancies with an abortive outcome in 2024—and implied that clinics have a financial incentive to report such figures.

The proposal has drawn attention for its historical reference and its implications for contemporary family law in Russia. While the Russian Orthodox Church has long been a vocal advocate for traditional family values, this suggestion marks a significant step toward aligning church policy with state measures that have been largely abandoned since the Soviet era. The move reflects a broader trend of intertwining religious and state authority in matters of personal and family life.

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