Russia to prohibit surrogacy services to foreigners

The Russian Duma (equivalent to the lower chamber of parliament) is going to implement the decision of banning the practice of surrogacy for foreign citizens within Russia.

The Chairman of the Duma chamber, Vyacheslav Volodin, published this development on his official Telegram channel on November 27.

"Surrogacy for foreigners has to be forbidden. All measures have to be taken in order to protect children by banning foreigners from searching for the services of surrogacy. We will make this decision at the beginning of December", the chairman announced.

Volodin emphasized that the trade of children is unacceptable, adding that 45,000 newborns born to surrogacy mothers have been picked up and traveled abroad within the last couple of years.

He referred to this practice as being "a large illegal business" that creates revenues estimated at €2 billion.

"Such babies often end up in difficult situations and become victims of a crime, including the trade of organs, or find themselves in a family of homosexual couples", Volodin warned.