MOSCOW, November 14 (RAPSI) – Head of the Russian State Duma’s healthcare committee and former Labor and Social Development minister Sergei Klashnikov opposes a ban on free abortions, but does not rule out the possibility of such a bill passing, as it aims at spending cuts.

Earlier this week, representatives of Samara region have submitted a draft to the State Duma, that, if adopted, would effectively put an end to subsidizing abortions (as an insurance clause) from the federal budget. Exceptions would be made only when the pregnancy termination is required medically or when the woman’s life is in danger.

Under the present legislation, terminating pregnancy is every woman’s right, as is independently deciding whether to become a mother, and abortions are financed from the basic medical insurance program.

“This draft is aimed at cutting spending to the basic medical insurance program, and, from this point of view, I think the lawmakers may support it, but I consider it to be inhumane to the women that decided to go through with an abortion,” Slashnikov told RIA Novosti.