The Kremlin has reportedly mobilized a brain trust to ‘win back’ the issue of pension reforms

The Kremlin has reportedly mobilized an informal group of experts and spin doctors to manage the backlash against proposed pension reforms. According to the newspaper Vedomosti, which previously reported that Putin’s administration is closely monitoring the public’s reaction, the informal group is in contact with the Kremlin’s domestic policy team, which is led by Putin’s first deputy chief of staff, Sergey Kiriyenko. “They’re planning to win back the issue in the very near future,” sources told Vedomosti.

Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, has repeatedly told reporters that the president is not yet involved in the project to raise Russia’s retirement age, insisting that Dmitry Medvedev and his cabinet are responsible. Since the reforms were announced, Putin’s re-election rating fell to its lowest point since before the annexation of Crimea.

The “Just Russia” political party says it will submit a petition with 2.5 million signatures collected by the Russian Confederation of Labor in opposition to a proposal to raise the country’s retirement age. The party’s leader, Sergey Mironov, says he will introduce alternative legislation that would freeze any hikes to Russia’s retirement age before 2030.

According to a recent sociological study by the Levada Center, an overwhelming majority of Russians — 89 percent — disagree with the plan to raise the retirement age. Protesters demonstrated in dozens of cities across the country on July 1, and larger rallies are planned after the end of the World Cup.

On June 14, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced a proposal to bring massive changes to Russia’s pension system. According to the plan, the retirement age would start rising gradually next year, growing from 55 to 63 for women and from 60 to 65 for men.