Rising abortion rates are deepening Russia’s demographic crisis. The Russian Orthodox Church is becoming increasingly vocal in urging a review of current abortion policies, putting forward a series of legislative measures, which include limiting public funding and introducing a so-called “Week of Silence”. In an interview with RIA Novosti’s Mikhail Yousef, Father Maksim, an archpriest and the head of the Life medical educational center, explains why the new measures are so important.