It is said that an unofficial ban on medication-induced abortions has been introduced in the Murmansk region after 6 weeks. Instead, women are being offered more severe methods — vacuum aspiration or surgical intervention.
The local authorities have admitted that they have established monetary incentives for doctors to encourage them to "dissuade women from their decision." Some women, however, say that doctors are deliberately stalling to reduce the opportunity for the procedure.
This is happening at a time when birth rates are sharply declining in Russia, and official demographic statistics have not been published since June.
Experts assess this as the government putting pressure on women with the aim of increasing the birth rate.
