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Putin's spokesman comments on raising retirement age in Russia

In 2005, during the Direct Line, President Vladimir Putin said he was against raising the retirement age

© Vladimir Smirnov/TASS

MOSCOW, June 15. /TASS/. The Kremlin explained why the government proposed to raise the retirement age, despite the fact that in 2005 Russian President Vladimir Putin said it would not happen. According to the spokesman of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov, the situation has significantly changed in 13 years.

"It's important to remember that these words were said 13 years ago," the Kremlin spokesman said.

"Of course, there are changes from the point of view of demography, both from in terms of the level of economic development and international situation - no country exists in a vacuum - and in terms of improving life expectancy," he said.

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Russian government approves bill to raise retirement age

In 2005, during the Direct Line televised program President Vladimir Putin said he was against raising the retirement age.

"As long as I'm the President, there will not be such a decision," he said. According to Putin, there is no need to raise the retirement age, but it is necessary to encourage those elderly who are able to work, despite their age, to continue working.

On Thursday, the Russian government approved a draft law on raising the retirement age in Russia - to 65 years for men and to 63 years for women.

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