August 02, 2021

Leaving the Mark of Marriage at the Altar


Leaving the Mark of Marriage at the Altar
One day of the year that you might consider a marriage stamp a good thing Skye Studios on Unsplash

The Russian Federation has made it optional for Russian citizens to include an indication of their marriage status or parenthood in their passports. This change came about on July 22 along with several others that give individuals greater control over their personal identification.

Disgruntled, Yekaterina Laxova of the Union of Russian Women announced on the Telegram channel "Radiotochka NSN" on July 23 that she found the decision “incomprehensible... I believe that stamps about marriage and children are important."

Laxova said her concern is that the family be both strengthened and developed in Russia, and she views a designation in the passport – the most important document for a Russian citizen – as reinforcement of these values.

Citizens of Russia can also request that their blood group, rhesus blood factor, and taxpayer identification number be included in their passports. However, the documents will still include records of when a person registers and leaves a place of residence, as well as information about the military service obligation of citizens who have reached the age of 18.

While some may welcome the possibility to unlink their identity from their marriage status, Russia’s Saint Fevronia, patron of Family, Love, and Fidelity might wag her finger just as vigorously as Yekaterina Laxova likely would…

You Might Also Like

A Cosmic Wedding
  • November 01, 2013

A Cosmic Wedding

When two cosmonauts - Valentina Tereshkova and Andriyan Nikolayev - wed in late 1963, it was the event of the year. We print an extract from the diary of its stage manager.
Dating Games
  • January 01, 2016

Dating Games

How are busy, young Russians coping in the era of Tinder and online dating? Our reporter finds it to be largely a world of scammers and sketchy apps.
Stealing Brides
  • March 01, 2015

Stealing Brides

The Caucasus is a region rich in tradition and often impenetrable to outside understanding. The modernized ritual of “bride kidnapping” is a case in point; we asked a local journalist to guide us.
Fevronia's Day
  • July 08, 2016

Fevronia's Day

On July 8, Russia celebrates the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, a holiday aimed at promoting traditional family values, more commonly known as Fevronia's Day. What's it all about?
Kazan Witnesses Transgender Marriage
  • December 26, 2019

Kazan Witnesses Transgender Marriage

The bride said that they encountered no problems because they had already changed their appearance to look like a traditional man and woman, and had received new documents that reflect their gender identity.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Fish
February 01, 2010

Fish

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

Jews in Service to the Tsar
October 09, 2011

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Moscow and Muscovites
November 26, 2013

Moscow and Muscovites

Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. 

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955