Putin orders pension hikes amid protests

MOSCOW – President Vladimir Putin, seeking to assuage rising public anger, promised a moderate increase in pensions and blamed federal and local officials Monday for failing to properly implement Kremlin reforms that cut off benefits to millions of Russians.

Putin’s first public comments since the unpopular change took effect came hours after lines of police blocked hundreds of protesters from retaking a major intersection in central St. Petersburg that thousands of pensioners had occupied over the weekend, bringing traffic to a halt. Demonstrators blocked major avenues and key highways in other cities.

“The Cabinet and the regions have failed to fully implement the task we had discussed: in making such decisions, not to worsen the position of those who need the state’s help,” a somber-looking Putin told Cabinet members in a partially televised session.

A law that gives retirees, the disabled, war veterans and others cash stipends instead of benefits such as free medicine and public transportation took effect Jan. 1, sparking the largest uproar in Putin’s five years in power.

Large protests have spread to numerous cities across Russia’s 11 time zones, including Putin’s hometown, St. Petersburg. Officials said the reform affects about 40 million of Russia’s 144 million people.

Protesters say new monthly payments of about $10 are worth much less than the benefits, forcing them to have to choose among food, transportation and medicine.

The Kremlin has described the social reform as a long-overdue effort to streamline and modernize the economy, but many commentators predict now that Putin may respond to the crisis by firing government ministers.

Putin defended the reform, saying its general concept was right and that the state can’t afford to maintain the existing unwieldy and inefficient social support system.