The ethnic Russians aren't declining because of the Battle of Stalingrad, or Stalin's purges, or because of Communism, which has been gone almost 20 years now. They're dying off because - by the Russian government's own figures - in the time it takes three Russians to be born, four die. That's happening right now, not back in the early-middle 20th Century.
Medvedev and Putin wish to pretend that Russia is still a great power while Russia dies. Whatever they build short term will be swept away by the self-extinction of their own people, and they're doing nothing to stop that.
I take no joy in the Russian people's destruction, because I don't hate them, unlike some people on Free Republic. If it were in my power to stop it I certainly would, but I won't deny the facts.
> They’re dying off because - by the Russian government’s own
> figures - in the time it takes three Russians to be born,
> four die
Is this a function of birth control among the general population, or is it due to abortion among the prostitutes?
While abortion plays a part in reducing new live births, I submit that it has, at best, a second order effect.
The Russians I’ve met, there and here, secular as well as religious, have a strong aversion to abortion.
The Russian Orthodox Church, as well as the Apostolic Lutheran and Slavic Baptists all vigorously oppose abortion.
The Apostolic Lutherans oppose birth control of any kind and have very large families.
Problem for Russia is that millions of them have emigrated to the U.S, Canada, Australia, Finland, etc.