Russian parliament to consider banning animal performances in circuses

The Russian State Duma is set to consider a bill in November that proposes a ban on animal performances in circuses across the country, Vladimir Burmatov, the first deputy chairman of the lower house of parliament's ecology committee, said, Report informs via Russian media.

Burmatov acknowledged the importance of the issue raised but suggested a different approach.

"We believe that the problem has been raised correctly, but it needs to be solved in a different way, that is, it needs to be solved consistently, tightening the screws on circuses so that the requirements for keeping animals in them are constantly increasing," he stated.

The deputy also cautioned that the adoption of such a bill could have serious consequences, citing the overcrowding of animal rehabilitation centers as a primary concern.

The use of animals in circuses has been a contentious issue worldwide, with many countries already implementing bans or strict regulations. In 2019, Germany became the latest European nation to ban wild animals in circuses, joining the ranks of countries like Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands.