Press Release, 21.08.2018

On 21 August, a series of single-person pickets against raising the retirement age were held by the State Duma. The picketing was timed to parliamentary hearings on the pension reform.

Photo: Sergei Mitrokhin

Sergei Mitrokhin, member of the Federal Political Committee of Yabloko and Chairman of the Moscow Rescue Committee, participated in the picketing. Mitrokhin recalled that the Moscow branch of Yabloko was the first to protest by the State Duma, when the bill on raising the retirement age was introduced to the Russian parliament.

Mitrokhin called on the parliamentary parties, who consider themselves to be opposition, to demand resignation of Vyacheslav Volodin, State Duma Speaker, in order to prove their opposition in practice. Volodin questioned the need to pay state pensions in Russia.

Photo: Nikolai Kavkazsky

Nikolai Kavkazsky, member of the Federal Council of Yabloko, also participated in the action. “Putin promised that while he is president, there will be no increase in the retirement age. The President did not keep his promise,” Nikolai Kavkazsky said.

The participants in the action held placards in their hands: “The pension “reform” is the shame of Putin and Medvedev!”, “Volodin to resign!” “The pension “reform” is the shame of “United Russia”, “the pension “reform” means robbery of the people!”.

The Yabloko party will participate in the second wave of actions against raising the retirement age, which is scheduled for 2 September.