Photo: Andry Markison / Flickr. All rights reserved. On 19 July 2018, Russia’s State Duma reviewed and accepted draft legislation on increasing the retirement age. The retirement age for men will be raised from 60 to 65, and for women from 55 to 63. This initiative has caused discontent across the whole country. Some cities have already held public actions, and on 28 July a nationwide protest is planned.
I spoke with six Russian citizens who will be among the first to experience the effects of pension reform. These are men (born around 1959-1963) and women born around 1964-1968, who will reach retirement age in several years time. Here, they share their life stories and opinions on the pension reform.
Viktor Moshkin: “Who will need me if I fail the medical examination?”
I live in Ekaterinburg, and I will soon be 55. I work as an engineer in the Sverdlovsk Regional Radio and Television Broadcast Centre, a telecommunications service provider. My duties include working with electrical installations and devices, servicing the radio and TV broadcasting equipment, and working in increased risk environments. I work under considerable pressure and I am now experiencing certain health problems. I was hoping to retire at 60.
