Russia’s Justice Ministry calls cohabitation without marriage a ‘national security threat’

Living together outside of marriage threatens Russia’s national security, Deputy Justice Minister Vadim Balanin said at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum (SPILF). The remarks came during a session titled “A Strong Family as a Value Guideline for Family Law.”

Balanin told the forum that family relations in Russia had shifted in recent years. “Right now, as you all know very well, we are encountering such a phenomenon as cohabitation without formal marriage registration. At the same time, the number of divorces among already registered marriages remains significant. And these trends, in our view, can be regarded as a direct threat to national security and the demographic health of our country,” he said.

He also invoked the West, which he said is living through an “era of revision of traditional values” — challenges he said are capable of “undermining the foundations of Russia’s statehood” and that require the country to defend the family institution.

The Justice Ministry supports strengthening family relations and measures “to counter the destruction of traditional ideologies,” and is tracking proposed amendments to the Family Code, Balanin added.

In recent years, Russia has launched a broad campaign promoting “traditional values.” Among other things, the authorities have sought to restrict access to abortion, discourage Russians from divorcing, and have refused to pass a domestic violence law. Lawmakers in the State Duma have justified the refusal to protect victims of abuse by relatives by arguing that such a law could scare men away from marriage.