Russia raises divorce fees to combat rising separation rates

The Moscow Times reported on Wednesday that the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) has passed a bill raising administrative divorce fees from 650 rubles to 5,000 rubles (from around 10 to 78 CAD). The fees related to marriage registration will remain unchanged.

The Moscow Times emphasized that Russia is among the world leaders in the number of divorces per 1,000 people, with the number of divorces steadily increasing over the last four years.

Statistics indicate that 33 percent of divorces are caused by poverty and the inability to support the family, 15 percent by mutual lack of understanding, and 14 percent by infidelity and jealousy.

The portal also cites the opinion of social psychologist Alexei Roshchin, who believes that in recent years the "atmosphere of fear" has intensified in the country, which may negatively affect marriages. He claims that the crisis and war in Ukraine have forced Russian women to "take off their rose-coloured glasses" and realize that men are just as powerless as they are in the face of external circumstances, undermining the foundations of many relationships.