A law passed at second and third readings bans foreign nationals and stateless people from using surrogacy in the Russian Federation.
"Surrogacy for foreigners is banned. This will prevent trafficking in our children and protect them from ending up with same-sex couples or becoming victims of crimes, including sale for organs," State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said.
This option remains available to married Russian citizens and single women. The ban will also not apply when a Russian citizen is in a registered marriage with a foreign national.
A child born in Russia to a surrogate mother who has entered into a surrogacy agreement with intended parents or a single woman also acquires Russian citizenship by birth.