90% of respondents said they would support the introduction in Russia of a law providing punishment for domestic violence. This is stated in a study conducted by Russian Field on behalf of State Duma deputy Ksenia Goryacheva (New People).
Women (95% in favor, 5% against) and respondents aged 18-29 more often express support. Negative attitudes toward adopting such a law are more common among men (83% in favor, 11% against) and survey participants aged 45-59 (86% in favor, 9% against).
The high level of support remains regardless of respondents' place of residence, education level, and financial situation. Supporters of all parliamentary parties also back the adoption of the law.
🔵 Stalking. In addition, 84% support the introduction of administrative liability for stalking, and 51% of respondents are convinced such a measure is fully necessary. 10% of those surveyed said they are rather against introducing such liability.
🔵 Statistics. Russia is currently seeing a surge in domestic violence — the number of обращения to the Women's Helpline in 2025 rose by 40%. As Ostorozhno, Novosti writes, similar dynamics were seen only during COVID-19, when the growth of domestic violence under self-isolation was called a “second epidemic.”
🔵 Context. In 2017, Putin signed a law decriminalizing domestic battery. At present, only a second incident of violence may be considered a criminal offense.
From 2019 to 2021, parliament discussed a draft law on preventing family and domestic violence, but it was never introduced. Several months before the start of the war in Ukraine, the head of the Federation Council said that such a law was needed, but the authorities were taking a “time-out”: “two irreconcilable poles” had formed around it — some considered the draft too lenient, while others saw it as “excessive interference in the family.” The Russian Orthodox Church was especially opposed to the law. Since then, the authorities' position on this issue has not changed.
In 2025, the Cabinet did not support a proposal to fine people for calls for domestic violence.