A protest rally against amending the Russian pension legislation, organized by the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) on the Academician Sakharov Avenue in Moscow, brought together about 3,000 people on Saturday, a Sputnik correspondent reported.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd September, 2018) A protest rally against amending the Russian pension legislation, organized by the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) on the Academician Sakharov Avenue in Moscow, brought together about 3,000 people on Saturday, a Sputnik correspondent reported.
According to the press service of the Russian Interior Ministry, the public order is being ensured by policemen and the Russian National Guard officers.
CPRF leader Gennady Zyuganov said while addressing the rally's participants that the earlier demonstrations organized by the party did have effect and resulted in the relaxation of the proposed changes.
"[Russian] President [Vladimir Putin] had to tell ... that he [decreased the retirement age by] three years for women ... because they should be protected and saved," Zyuganov said.
Earlier on Saturday, a separate rally was held in the Russian city of St. Petersburg, which has managed to bring together only 200 participants, who represented trade unions and social organizations.
On September 2, the CPRF held another demonstration against changes to the country's pension system, with the participation of 6,000 people in contrast to 12,000 planned attendants.
On July 19, the Russian State Duma adopted in the first reading a bill on changes to the pension law. The bill proposed raising the retirement age from 60 to 65 years for men and from 55 to 63 years for women. The changes are expected to be implemented gradually starting from 2019.
Earlier in September, Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted to the State Duma amendments to the bill on improving the pension system. The president's amendments have softened the proposed changes in the legislation, particularly, reducing the future retirement age for women from 63 to 60.
