Russia: President Vladimir Putin taken to part on his salary by a resident

It is an unusual scene in Russia: President Vladimir Putin was beaten up on his salary by a resident of Saint Petersburg (illustration image). AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

It is an unusual scene in Russia: President Vladimir Putin taken to part on his salary by a resident of Saint Petersburg, during a ceremony in his hometown. The woman, claiming to have a disability, challenged the Russian president in front of the cameras and notably asked him how she could live on an income of less than 200 euros per month.

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With our correspondent in Moscow, Daniel Vallot

In the images shot by the Russian agency Ria Novosti and broadcast on social networks, Vladimir Putin is from behind and his words are barely audible.

According to the agency's transcript, the woman who calls him asks how it is possible to get by with a monthly allowance of less than 11,000 rubles, around 160 euros. " I think it's very difficult, " concedes the Russian president, whose monthly income is 70 times higher.

The dialogue continues, and Vladimir Putin on the defensive explains to his interlocutor, on the one hand that he does not have the “ highest ” salary in the country, and on the other hand that the State “ does everything what it can do ”to help the most needy. Reference to the various measures announced last month to redress the purchasing power of the Russians.

Vladimir Putin has never been a fan of the crowd and in normal times, his public outings are carefully prepared to avoid him precisely this kind of confrontation.

The ceremony organized in St. Petersburg on Wednesday was therefore an exception to the rule. But if the images have already been widely disseminated on social networks and on the net, the main Russian television channel has carefully avoided showing them.

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  • Russia
  • Vladimir Poutine

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