Why Russians are protesting against pension reforms
Thousands take to streets after retirement age hike - but protests banned from World Cup host cities
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.
One poll found 80% of Russians oppose the plans, which the government says are needed to cope with a shrinking workforce having to provide for an increasing number of retirees. As of Sunday, over 2.6 million Russians had signed a Change.org petition calling for the government to scrap the reforms.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Radio Free Europe says it would be the first pension age increase since Soviet times and “has angered many Russians who would see their retirement recede into the future under the reform”.
“Supporters of the reform say the young retirement ages are a hangover from the Soviet period and are untenable in a market economy” The Guardian reports. “Critics point out that life expectancy for men is barely higher than the new retirement age”.
The World Health Organisation estimates Russian men have an average life expectancy of just 66.
Protests, which took place before Russia’s World Cup game with Spain on Sunday, were led by opposition figure Alexei Navalny, but also included trade unionists, Communists and nationalists, says the BBC.
Protests were, however, banned in any World Cup host city.
The proposals have also been heavily criticised by Russia’s usually subservient press, with Moskovski Komsomolets, a popular Moscow newspaper, describing them as the “most dangerous and risky reform of President Putin's 20-year rule”.
This rare show of defiance reflects the public backlash against the changes that have brought Putin’s approval ratings down from 78% when the measures were announced to 64% in just under two weeks, according to the VTsIOM state pollster.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Big Tech critic Brendan Carr is Trump's FCC pick
In the Spotlight The next FCC commissioner wants to end content moderation practices on social media sites
By David Faris Published
-
ATACMS, the long-range American missiles being fired by Ukraine
The Explainer President Joe Biden has authorized their use for the first time in the war
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The bacterial consequences of hurricanes
Under the radar Floodwaters are microbial hotbeds
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published