Putin's shock at Moscow salaries reveals disconnect
Vladimir Putin is reportedly unaware of the actual earnings of Russians, as claimed by Anton Gerashchenko, a Ukrainian politician. A video capturing his reaction to the salary levels in Moscow has been circulated on social media.
During a meeting of the Board of Trustees at Moscow State University, Vladimir Putin enquired about the average salary in Moscow. He was informed that it ranges from 140,000 to 160,000 roubles, roughly equivalent to €1,360 to €1,550. "No way. More," responded the surprised President of Russia.
Video footage featuring Putin released
Anton Gerashchenko, the former Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, shared the video of the meeting on the X platform. He observed that the footage had been removed from official sources by the RBK channel. "They don’t want the Russian public to know how out of touch their President is," remarked Herashchenko.
According to Herashchenko, Putin would be even more astonished to learn that these figures are probably exaggerated. "According to latest data from one of the largest job search sites in Russia, Gorodrabot, the average salary in Moscow as of Dec 2024 was 80,000-100,000 rubles (€780-€970). The averages across the country are significantly lower than that," noted the politician. Journalists from the 'Moscow Times' report that in 2024, the average salary in Russia increased by 15 per cent.
The Ministry of Economic Development of Russia anticipates that by 2027, the average salary will be about 100,000 roubles. Currently, unemployment in the country is at a record low of 2.3 per cent. n November 2024, the average earnings of doctors were 88,400 rubles (€860), IT specialists 114,200 rubles (€1,110), and accountants 62,300 rubles (€605).
