RUSSIA: PEOPLE GATHER FOR A RALLY IN KHIMKI TO PROTEST THE WITHDRAWAL OF SOCIAL BENEFITS

Record ID: 215397

  • Title: RUSSIA: PEOPLE GATHER FOR A RALLY IN KHIMKI TO PROTEST THE WITHDRAWAL OF SOCIAL BENEFITS
  • Date: 15th January 2005
  • Summary: (W5) MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JANUARY 15, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. LV PENSIONERS' RALLY IN KHIMKI TOWN - OUTSIDE MOSCOW 0.06 2. CU OF RALLY IN PROGRESS (2 SHOTS) 0.19 3. LV POLICEMEN WATCHING 0.23 4. CU OF PEOPLE AT RALLY 0.28 5. SLV POLICEMEN WATCHIN 0.32 6. MCU (Russian) ANATOLI, KHIMKI RESIDENT, SAYING: "The politician Glazyev s
  • Embargoed: 30th January 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Reuters ID: LVAALOC5AEA54H48PY31VYN13DXS
  • Story Text: Around a thousand people gathered for a rally in Khimki,
    on the outskirts of Moscow, to protest the withdrawal of social benefits.



    About a thousand people gathered for a rally in
    Khimki, on the outskirts of Moscow, on Saturday (January
    15, 2005), to protest the withdrawal of social benefits. The
    protesters, mainly pensioners living in Khimki, were
    demanding to have their benefits reinstated at least
    partially, as had been done in Moscow.

    Alexandra, a Khimki resident who joined the
    demonstration, said: "What is happening now is totally
    disgraceful, I was fighting during World War Two and also
    working, and look what kind of result I had got."
    Many Russians believe the government plans to save
    money by offering less than the true value of their
    benefits when they are replaced by cash. The proposed cash
    payments range from 800 to 3,500 roubles (1 US dollar = 29
    rubles) per month, and are not inflation linked.

    The government bill which has angered ordinary
    Russians was submitted to the Duma in June of 2004 and
    signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in August.

    Government officials say changing the benefits into
    cash would allow the benefits to be better targeted.

    The bill has sparked heated debates and protests
    right across Russia in recent months, persuading Duma
    deputies to consider significant changes to the bill.

    Economists and social policy analysts say the
    government proposals are essential as part of moves to
    modernise Russia and its economy. But they warn that the
    proposed changes will do little to improve the situation,
    because they do not introduce means-testing to ensure that
    the changes benefit the poor.

    According to official government statistics, some 30
    million Russians, 20 percent of the population, live at or
    below the poverty line.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register