Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Moscow on Sunday to criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin in the face of a proposed increase in the retirement age.
Reuters reported that rally-goers chanted “Putin is a thief” and “away with the tsar.”
More than 6,000 people are believed to have attended the protests, according to a non-governmental organization that counts rally attendance, but Moscow police put the number close to 2,500.
Putin has been under fire over the retirement age proposal, which would raise the retirement age from 60 to 65 for men, and from 55 to 63 for women. The proposal is intended to improve government finances, Reuters reported.
However, Putin’s approval ratings have dropped and he has faced protests since the idea was announced in mid-June. Putin once said he would not raise the retirement age, and has tried to distance himself from the proposal, Reuters reported.
While Putin faces criticism over his domestic policies, he received positive reviews in Russia for his performance at a meeting with President Trump Donald John TrumpYemeni-American man kills himself after family blocked from entering US by Trump admin Dershowitz on MSNBC panel: 'Don't you dare accuse me' of defending Trump Bannon slams Kochs: 'What they have to do is shut up and get with the program' MORE earlier this month.
Trump, meanwhile, has endured fierce bipartisan criticism over his handling of the meeting, where he seemingly sided with Putin and cast doubt on the U.S. intelligence community's assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 election.
The president has sought to clarify those remarks since, but has undercut his own efforts by declaring Russian interference to be a "big hoax."
john_jdm on July 30th, 2018 at 00:25 UTC »
Does that even matter in Russia? Honest question.
irrision on July 29th, 2018 at 21:39 UTC »
Just robbing the Russian people blind to enrich himself and his friends.
bagada on July 29th, 2018 at 21:38 UTC »
Thousands simultaneously trip and fall in Moscow, accidentally swallowing a variety of toxic nerve agents on the way down.