Russia's Putin vows to increase pensions

[Judi Lynn]

Monday, January 17, 2005 · Last updated 4:25 p.m. PT

Russia's Putin vows to increase pensions

By IRINA TITOVA
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

MOSCOW -- President Vladimir Putin, seeking to assuage rising public anger, promised a moderate increase in pensions and blamed federal and local officials Monday for failing to properly implement Kremlin reforms that cut off benefits to millions of Russians.

Putin's first public comments since the unpopular change took effect came hours after lines of police blocked hundreds of protesters from retaking a major intersection in central St. Petersburg that thousands of pensioners had occupied over the weekend, bringing traffic to a halt. Demonstrators blocked major avenues and key highways in other cities.

"The Cabinet and the regions have failed to fully implement the task we had discussed: in making such decisions, not to worsen the position of those who need the state's help," a somber-looking Putin told Cabinet members in a partially televised session.

A law that gives retirees, the disabled, war veterans and others cash stipends instead of benefits such as free medicine and public transportation took effect Jan. 1, sparking the largest uproar in Putin's five years in power.
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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apeurope_story.asp?category=1103&slug=Russia%20Protests

[orpupilofnature57]

1. Maybe he could help shrub leave s.s of his fix-it list, 4 more, oh boy

[sweetheart]

2. putin comes around with the threat of a revolution

He knows that the generation in the streets has seen worse things
and is prepared to fight like only that generation has experience
doing to obtain its ends. Saint petersburg survived 500,000 dead of
starvation with the nazi seige, and its survivors are a litmus test
to keep putin in line.

Sadly, to be decent, these despots need to be threatened with losing
their jobs (and better).

[maddezmom]

3. duplicate topic, please discuss here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1158526