Conservative lawmakers and Orthodox activists in Russia are advocating the creation of a national registry of married citizens, to be made accessible through the government’s digital platform Gosuslugi.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Orthodox-aligned movement Sorok Sorokov, is intended to enable individuals to verify whether a potential partner is already legally married, in a bid to combat infidelity and restore trust in relationships.

The proposal arises amid growing concerns over marital dishonesty. Sorok Sorokov, whose name translates as “Forty Forties,” cites polling data indicating that over one-third of Russians admit to infidelity, while approximately 30% of divorces are attributed to extramarital affairs. In a public statement, the organisation asserted that “if people know their lies can be exposed, they may think twice before misleading a partner,” adding that the registry could provide those entering serious relationships with an opportunity to “verify intentions before it’s too late.”

Founded in 2013, Sorok Sorokov is a Russian Orthodox-conservative public movement known for promoting traditional family values, religious education and the protection of Orthodox Christian heritage. The group has gained visibility through its mobilisation of volunteers to construct and defend churches, particularly in urban areas where such developments often face public resistance. It consistently aligns itself with nationalist and Orthodox Church interests, advocating for laws that reinforce what it terms “spiritual foundations,” while opposing liberal social reforms, LGBTQ+ rights and shifts in traditional gender roles.

The proposal has drawn support from State Duma Deputy Vitaly Milonov, a prominent advocate of conservative social policies. Milonov has suggested that the registry could form part of a broader digital overhaul, which may also include a state-run dating platform with filters to exclude “unfaithful individuals” and those in arrears on alimony payments. 

“This isn’t surveillance – it’s about helping honest people find each other,” Milonov told local media.

A noted proponent of Orthodox values, Milonov is widely known for his role in introducing Russia’s 2013 “gay propaganda” law, which prohibits the dissemination of LGBTQ+ content to minors. He frequently garners media attention for his conservative campaigns, which have included calls to ban Western pop acts such as Madonna and efforts to prohibit foreign cultural observances like Halloween.

According to Sorok Sorokov, the envisioned system would not disclose names or personal information. Instead, it would confirm whether a person is presently in a registered marriage via official channels such as civil registry offices (ZAGS), integrated into Gosuslugi. Nonetheless, privacy advocates and legal scholars have voiced serious concerns, warning that the initiative could infringe data protection regulations and foster an environment of institutional mistrust, replacing open communication in relationships with state-sanctioned monitoring. Critics also argue that the proposal exemplifies a broader pattern of moral policing and symbolic measures in place of comprehensive social policy.

The registry concept coincides with the Russian government’s intensified efforts to reverse demographic decline. Birth rates remain at historic lows, and marriage rates continue to fall. Although the Kremlin has prioritised policies to encourage larger families and increased childbirth, including financial incentives and restrictions on reproductive healthcare, these measures have thus far produced limited results.