An anti-abortion flash mob in the Russian Far Eastern city of Vladivostok, entitled Silent Scream, gathered some 30 participants on Sunday who symbolically released black and red toy balloons with unborn children's names into the sky, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.
Women in Russia, whose population is 142 million, undergo some 1-1.5 million abortions annually in line with official statistics.
But the flash mob participants released toy balloons to the sound of a bell ringing each six seconds, which they said was due to unofficial statistics, in line with which an unborn child dies in Russia during an abortion each six seconds, which is four-five times the official figures.
The flash mob ended when all available toy balloons were released into the sky.
"Today we are holding a youth action entitled Silent Scream against abortions and we consider an abortion to be a murder. We... want to address women and say: 'Don't darken your soul with the murder of your own child'. An abortion is inadmissible, especially in this country that is experiencing a demographic crisis," an organizer said.
Silent Scream is the name of a documentary dating back to 1983 showing the abortion of a 12-week fetus. Abortion opponents use the film as proof illustrating their viewpoint.
A recent United Nations report indicates that the Russian population will fall from 142 million in 2008 to 116 million by 2050 unless action is taken to reverse current trends.
Russia has implemented a raft of policies as part of efforts to arrest the decline, which has accelerated since the collapse of the Soviet Union and ensuing economic hardships, aiming to keep the numbers at 142-143 million people by 2015 and ensure an increase to 145 million by 2025.
President Dmitry Medvedev, who oversaw ambitious welfare projects driven by a recent economic boom as first deputy premier, has spearheaded measures to support foster families, develop preschool education, and promote a healthy lifestyle.
Programs the government has launched to tackle the demographic crisis include incentive payments for second births. Posters like those depicting a young woman with three babies and reading "Love for your nation starts with love for family" have been widespread.
VLADIVOSTOK, March 7 (RIA Novosti)
