A masterclass in imprecision Russia's Kremlin-loyal news media bends over backwards to obscure that lawmakers just voted to raise the retirement age

Despite calls from some minority-party deputies, the State Duma voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to adopt the first reading of controversial legislation that would raise Russia's retirement age from 60 to 65 for men by 2028, and from 55 to 63 for women by 2034. Public opinion polls show that Russians largely oppose this proposal. After the reforms were announced, Vladimir Putin’s re-election rating slipped to 54 percent in late June — his lowest score since before Russia annexed Crimea. Deputies were reportedly told to refrain from criticizing Vladimir Putin during debate on the legislation’s first reading. The final vote tally was 328 in favor and 104 opposed. Reporting the news that State Duma lawmakers have adopted the first reading of the legislation, several pro-Kremlin and government-controlled news outlets ran headlines that left out the most important thing about the bill: it would raise the retirement age.

Interfax: “The pension bill” 😀

RIA Novosti: “Pension legislation reforms” 😏

TASS: “Pension system reforms” 😉

(TASS has also renamed its “Pension Reform” trending news section to “Pension Law”)

And here’s how many outlets reported the story a day earlier:

Russia Today: “Pension legislation reforms” 😎

Izvestia: “The bill on pension reforms” 😅

Life: “The pension bill” 😊

NTV: After first reporting “Legislation to raise the retirement age is adopted in its first reading,” the outlet immediately changed the headline to read: “Legislation reforming pension legislation is adopted in its first reading” 😂

Kommersant: “Pension reforms” 😃

Rossiyskaya Gazeta: “Pension system reforms” 😌

Parlamentskaya Gazeta (The Russian Senate’s official newspaper of record): “The new law on the pension system” 😎

The State Duma’s website: “Pension system development” 😇