Why Russians are protesting against pension reforms

Thousands take to streets after retirement age hike - but protests banned from World Cup host cities

Russian communists have joined protests against pension reform
(Image credit: Vasily Maximov/AFP/Getty Imaes)

Protests have been held in more than 30 Russian cities amid growing anger at plans to raise the pension age.

Proposals to raise the retirement age from 60 to 65 for men, and from 55 to 63 for women, were announced on the opening day of the World Cup and have since been met with widespread opposition, lowering Vladimir Putin’s approval rating.

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