Russian activists have asked the Ministry of Justice to consider following the example of some other European countries and legalize prostitution. The world's oldest profession has been banned in modern Russia since its formation.
Speaking to Kommersant, director of the ‘Silver Rose’ movement Irina Maslova said that the administrative punishment (a monetary fine) for sex work only exists to facilitate corruption and stops sex workers from finding law-abiding jobs. Maslova alleges that cases rarely go to court, as women give a bribe to the police to make the situation go away. If a case does go to court, and a worker is found guilty of prostitution, they are placed on the police database and are subsequently unable to find gainful employment.