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Kremlin says has not yet taken final stance on referendum to permit euthanasia

Earlier Healthcare Minister Veronika Skvortsova voiced a statement that the whole nation should decide on the possibility of permitting euthanasia

Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov Sergei Bobylev/TASS

Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov

© Sergei Bobylev/TASS

MOSCOW, October 28. /TASS/. The Kremlin has not yet taken a final stance on the possibility of a referendum to permit euthanasia, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, commenting on Healthcare Minister Veronika Skvortsova’s statement that the whole nation should decide on the possibility of permitting euthanasia.

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Euthanasia - for or against: Russians should decide via referendum, says health minister

"The Kremlin has no position on the matter. I am unaware of any recommendations that the government could have issued in this regard," Peskov said, when asked if the Russian authorities thought it was possible to hold a referendum on euthanasia.

Skvortsova said earlier in an interview with the Komsomolskaya Pravda radio station that it was up to the country’s people to decide whether to permit euthanasia in Russia. The healthcare minister pointed out that it was a very complex issue, which concerned each person’s fundamental right to life, and it was resolved through a referendum in some countries. "I will not forecast the way the issue will be resolved specifically in our country. The population itself must decide whether it is ready to pursue this or not," Skvortsova said.

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