Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008. He was also the Prime Minister of Russia from 1999 to 2000 and again from 2008 to 2012.
Russia’s lower house of parliament has passed a bill that would ban legally or medically changing gender, with rights groups saying the measure could be signed into law by President Vladimir Putin within weeks.
Transgender rights groups have reacted with alarm to the bill, which will now pass to the upper house of parliament for approval.
If it passes, as expected, it would then need to be signed by Putin in order to take effect. Here’s what you need to know. What does the bill say?
The bill would bar trans Russians from changing their legal gender on identity documents – which has been permitted since 1997 – and stop health workers from providing gender-affirming medical care such as surgery or hormone therapy.