The Russian Health Ministry has cut the list of social grounds that allow women to have a free abortion. Now only sexual assault is an excuse for women to abort their pregnancy. All the medical factors remained the same. 

      "A pregnancy which occurs after sexual assault, is a social reason for a woman to have a free abortion,” the Health Ministry said in a statement.

      Earlier there were such social factors for free abortion as if there was a court decision to relieve a woman of her parental rights, if a woman was in jail, or if a father became disabled or died during a woman's pregnancy.

      Among the medical factors that give Russian women the right for a free abortion are AIDS infection, oncology, an active form of tuberculosis, grave genetic diseases and other health problems threatening a woman’s life.

      The 2010 census showed that Russia's population dropped from 145 million in 2002 to under 143 million, with the death rate continuing to exceed the birth rate despite government efforts to encourage Russians to have more children.

      The parliament may soon pass a new anti-abortion bill that could limit access to abortion services and toughen criminal punishment for doctors who carry out illegal abortions. 

Sources: KP.ru RIA Novosti Image: 8tv.ru