Russians resume protests against pension age reform after detentions

The proposed change, already amended by Putin, envisages raising the retirement age for men to 65, from 60, and to 60, from 55, for women and is the most unpopular government measure in Russia since a 2005 move to scrap Soviet-era benefits.

By: Reuters | St Petersberg | Published: September 16, 2018 9:17:01 pm

A protester wearing a hat depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and reading ‘Putin-means stagnation’ during a protest rally against pension reform in St.Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. Several hundred demonstrators protesting Russia’s plans to raise the age for receiving state retirement pensions have rallied in St. Petersburg. (AP Photo)

Around 500 people demonstrated in St Petersburg on Sunday against planned increases in Russia’s pension age, a week after hundreds were detained for protesting against the reform that has hurt President Vladimir Putin’s approval rating.

The proposed change, already amended by Putin, envisages raising the retirement age for men to 65, from 60, and to 60, from 55, for women and is the most unpopular government measure in Russia since a 2005 move to scrap Soviet-era benefits.

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Russian opposition leader Navalny detained in Moscow

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been detained in Moscow, although the reason for his detention was unclear. Navalny has been detained and jailed several times for organizing anti-Kremlin protests - he was last sentenced to 30 days in prison in May for his role in organizing nationwide protests against President Vladimir Putin.

Sunday’s protest in Russia’s second city was smaller than rallies a week ago in 80 towns and cities that were organised by jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny. More than 800 people were detained during those demonstrations, the bulk of them in Saint Petersburg after the authorities there initially authorised a rally before reversing their decision.

The local branch of the Interior Ministry said that around 500 people had taken part in Sunday’s protest, which was held without “gross violations of public order.”

OVD-Info, a human rights organisation that monitors detentions, said that three people had been detained during the rally.

The proposed pension changes, which are currently going through parliament, have shaved around 15 percentage points off Putin’s popularity rating.