Russia's deputy prime minister thinks it's funny that people live in small homes
While on an official visit to the city of Kazan last week, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov was taken on a tour of new economy-class apartments now under construction. In particular, he was shown a 20-square-meter (215-square-foot) apartment. He later told journalists that he was amused to learn people actually buy such homes. Shuvalov said, “It seems ridiculous, but people buy such housing, and it's actually very popular. There's a niche for such housing.” Given that people usually opt for such small homes out of economic necessity and not because of an affinity for cramped spaces—and remembering that Shuvalov rents a 1,500-square-meter (16,145-square-foot) house in Austria and a luxury apartment in Great Britain—the deputy prime minister's comments raised some eyebrows in Russia. On Twitter, people wasted no time using Shuvalov's unfortunate remarks as grounds to joke about Russia's low wages, state corruption, and Putin personality cult.
Today they showed me the [monthly] wages paid around Moscow. 20,000 rubles [$300]. It seems ridiculous, but people work such jobs and the positions are very popular.
Mark Shein (real name: Valery Markov)
Today they showed me some old ladies. They've got miserable pensions. It seems ridiculous, but Putin is very popular with them!!
Today they showed me some Russian health clinics. It seems ridiculous, but people actually go there and they're quite popular...
Today they showed me some people who have gone batshit nuts over the past 20 years. It seems ridiculous, but these were Russia's state authorities, and people elect them.
Today they showed me the new Rolls-Royce. At first, it seems very expensive and unaffordable for civil servants, but they buy them.
Today they showed me Russia's national soccer team. It seems ridiculous, but people actually root for them and it's quite popular.