RUSSIA: Russian rural pensioners in a barren town approach the Duma election weekend with ambivalence, but say they long for higher pensions and better services from government
Record ID:
327634
RUSSIA: Russian rural pensioners in a barren town approach the Duma election weekend with ambivalence, but say they long for higher pensions and better services from government
- Title: RUSSIA: Russian rural pensioners in a barren town approach the Duma election weekend with ambivalence, but say they long for higher pensions and better services from government
- Date: 3rd December 2011
- Summary: BERENDEYEVO, RUSSIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) ICY ROAD TO VILLAGE OF BERENDEYEVO ROAD WITH CHURCH IN BACKGROUND VARIOUS WOODEN HOUSES VARIOUS VILLAGER ANATOLY WALKING WITH HIS BICYCLE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) BERENDEYEVO PENSIONER ANATOLY, SAYING: "I support the communist prorgamme. He says correctly that the money was all spent, and they ran off. What is this, a court case? They stole a billion from pensioners, and what? And what?" WEATHERED WOODEN HOUSE IN SNOW (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) BERENDEYEVO PENSONER ANATOLY, SAYING: "And what do we have? We have bribery, and wherever you look there are lines in the clinics, and what is this called (POINTING AT THE ROAD), a road? No. There's no light, and there's no light in the village. What?" WOODEN HOUSE IN SNOW ANATOLY WALKING WITH BIKE STATUE OF SOLDIER IN CENTER OF TOWN PENSIONER ANTONINA WALKING WITH STICK CLOSE UP OF SOLDIER STATUE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) BERENDEYEVO PENSIONER ANTONINA, SAYING: "I'm going to vote again for Putin, but all the same no one gives us anything good. We have very low pensions. But we have to live." VILLAGE CHURCH WOODEN ONION DOME ON CHURCH PRIEST ENTERING CHURCH ANTONINA AND OTHER WOMEN TALKING, WOMAN IN RED KERCHIEF SAYING 'WE DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO VOTE!' WOMEN STANDING IN GROUP NEAR CHURCH VARIOUS COMMUNITY BUILDING VARIOUS WORKERS STRINGING POWERLINES (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) BERENDEYEVO VILLAGER PAVEL NIKOLAEVICH, SAYING: "I usually like Zuganovs speeches. It seems like he is for everything. Because all of the collective farms have been destroyed and the price of land is a rip-off. Lenin gave us the land for free and now you have to pay for it." WOODEN HOUSE PAVEL NIKOLAEVICH WALKING AWAY WEATHERED GREEN HOUSE IN SNOW COLLAPSED ROOF ON HOUSE ALONG ROADWAY BOY WITH BIKE ON ROAD CAR DRIVING DOWN ROAD VARIOUS WEATHERED SHEDS VARIOUS WEATHERED WOODEN HOUSE WITH DECORATIVE WINDOW FRAMES
- Embargoed: 18th December 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Russian Federation
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVADW8FMJ74PEUEQ8MLBBBHUYTYR
- Story Text: In the village of Berendeyevo, in the Yaroslavl region, rural pensioners say they are not expecting much from the parliamentary elections scheduled for Sunday (December 4).
Leaning houses, with flaking paint and wood exposed to the elements, line the road in and out of the village, where residents complain they lack basic services.
VIllager Anatoly told Reuters he was tired of the current regime and wanted a return to communism.
"I support the communist prorgamme. He (communist leader Gennady Zyuganov) says correctly that the money was all spent, and they ran off. What is this, a court case? They stole a billion from pensioners, and what? And what?" Anatoly asked, reflecting on the fallout from economic reforms that ushered out the Soviet command economy and brought in capitalism in the late 1990s, devaluing the rouble and pensions for millions of people.
Anatoly, who said he was a former lecturer in international relations, also decried the condition of the village and said it was related to rampant corruption in government.
"And what do we have? We have bribery, and wherever you look there are lines in the clinics, and what is this called?" Anatoly asked, pointing at the road. "There's no light, and there's no light in the village," Anatoly said.
In the centre of the village, Antonina carefully navigates the icy road with a walking stick. She said she is voting for Prime Minister Vladmir Putin's ruling party United Russia on Sunday and Putin himself for president in March, but she has few expectations of the upcoming polls.
"I'm going to vote again for Putin, but all the same, no one gives us anything good. We have very low pensions. But we need to live," She said.
Other women in the village met up with Antonina and echoed her feelings about the elections.
"We don't have anywhere to vote," one said, explaining to Reuters that authorities had closed the only school nearby.
Villager Pavel Nikolaevich said at age 77 he did not know what to think about politics anymore. But, he confided, he would support the communist party.
"I usually like how Zyuganov speaks publicly, It seems like he is for everything," Pavel said. "Because all of the collective farms have been destroyed and the price of land is a rip-off. Lenin gave us the land for free, and now you have to pay for it."
As president, Putin sought to end the chaos which was the hallmark of post-Soviet and he presided over the longest Russian economic boom in a generation, fueled by high market prices for oil. Supporters credit Putin with bringing order and improving life for many Russians.
Pensions were raised modestly in 2010, and reforming the pension system for the growing Russian population over 60 is meant to one of the largest challenges for the next administration. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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