On Friday, Russia’s State Duma approved a bill that prohibits transgender medical procedures, citing the protection of the country’s “traditional values” as the motivation behind the legislation.

The bill underwent strengthening and unanimously passed its third and final reading in the lower house of parliament.

It will now proceed to the Federation Council, the Kremlin-controlled upper chamber, where it must also be approved before being sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin for final approval, Fox News reported.

The legislation specifically prohibits all “medical interventions aimed at changing the sex of a person” and additionally restricts Russian citizens from altering their gender markers on official documents and public records.

However, there is a single exception allowing medical interventions for congenital anomalies.

During its second reading on Thursday, lawmakers introduced amendments that would nullify marriages in which one party has “changed gender” and also prevent transgender individuals from becoming foster or adoptive parents.

Written by staff