Why is Putin afraid to say that he supports raising the retirement age? We all understand that he is the one pushing this idea, which is why the few United Russia party members who refused to vote for this law are being hit so hard over the head.
The answer is obvious.
Putin understands: a) 95% of the population is categorically against the law. b) the arguments in favor of it are lies piled on lies. c) for 18 years he has said the exact opposite. And as a result, his approval rating will collapse. It has already fallen significantly.
Besides, both Putin and the whole Kremlin gang understand that a consolidated position by the authorities will produce an equally consolidated position against them. Specifically, it will lead to protest actions.
And if the protests are large-scale, they will have to walk everything back—there will be no way around it. Just remember the monetization of benefits (the 2005 reform replacing in-kind Soviet-era social benefits with cash payments, which triggered mass protests).
So two things are being done right now to force through the retirement-age increase after all:
- Creating uncertainty ("Putin seems to be against it, he still hasn't decided, it's not all so clear-cut")
(most importantly) "Spreading the protest thin." This strategy is very noticeable. There have already been many different rallies against raising the retirement age. And we ourselves have held many of them. And interestingly, permits are granted to us, but on different days. This city on one Sunday, another city on the following Sunday. Or two rallies at the same time—ours and the Communist Party's (that happened in Voronezh).
To "spread it thin," they actively use corrupt trade unions and Communist Party structures under their control, which announce rallies and then do nothing to bring people out.
For example, the Communist Party rally against pension reform in Moscow was effectively organized by City Hall itself. They even helped bus in people from the regions. What mattered to them was making sure more people showed up than at the libertarians' rally.
The tactic is simple, but quite effective: lead the protest against yourself. It worked perfectly during the protests against the renovation program. You take a few bought-off crooks, they stage a "non-political rally," and then disappear after getting their payoff. And where are those anti-renovation protests and protesters now? Exactly.
There is nothing scary about any of this. You just need to understand how it works and not let yourself be deceived.
The authorities are doing everything they can to prevent a nationwide campaign against raising the retirement age and, above all, to stop a single day of protest actions from taking place across the country.
So that is exactly what must be done.
And we have the best date imaginable.
09.09.
September 9, the Single Voting Day. A day specifically meant for people to express their views about the authorities, their actions, and specific politicians.
We want the entire rest of the campaign period (elections will take place in 26 regions, including Moscow) to be focused on nothing but the retirement-age increase, don't we? We do.
Do we want everyone to be thinking about the retirement-age increase on voting day, and for the media to be writing about it? We do.
Do we want to impose our political agenda on the authorities? We do.
And we can easily achieve that if protests against raising the retirement age take place in 100 cities across the country on the Single Voting Day. September 9 is the perfect day.
Let me answer this question right away: there are no restrictions on holding rallies or marches on voting day. It is an ordinary Sunday.
The issue of possible bans and unauthorized actions will also look completely different in this context.
Arrest people on voting day? In Moscow—on the day of the mayoral election? Go ahead.
Are you going to detain people for coming out and repeating word for word what Putin himself said throughout his 18 years in power? Go ahead, detain them.
Let a grandmother know that her grandson was dragged to the police station for defending her pension.
Or let a grandfather know that the elderly woman next door was dragged away for something he himself agrees with 100%.
On our side are complete moral rightness, the support of 95% of the population, and the law.
So let me say this right away: no moving events to 7 a.m. No "approved sites next to a cemetery." Only city centers, in full accordance with the law, the Constitution, and the rulings of the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court.
Moscow City Hall and the St. Petersburg administration can take their proposals elsewhere right away. We are reasonable people and are prepared to discuss different routes in the CITY CENTER (in Moscow, inside the Garden Ring) and nothing else. We will not even enter into any other negotiations.
We do not need the kind of "approved rally" City Hall has in mind, where organizers first have their symbols and stage design taken away, and then are detained anyway. What we need is what the law says and what we are entitled to by right.
Right now, you can help a great deal with the preparations by sharing this video.
Our 46 campaign offices will submit the necessary applications. Where we do not have offices, we will work with groups of local activists.
Here is a list of existing VK groups where updates will be posted on preparations for the protest in your city.
The authorities pass their idiotic laws only because we let them.
Do not become a victim of robbery voluntarily—take to the streets on 09.09.