The measure in the Duma was presented by Vladimir Zhirinoski, leader of the far-right Liberal Democratic Party. His proposal also hoped to increase the monthly state subsidy for parents to 200 rubles from 58 rubles for each child under 14 years. The draft bill also would have lowered the minimal age for marriage from 18 to 15 years.
Official statistics estimated Russia´s 2000 population at 144.2 million inhabitants, a decrease of 800,000 from a year earlier. The mortality rate in Russia has been higher than the birthrate for more than 10 years.
In February the government´s Information Service said it expected the population to shrink another 2.8 million by 2005.
