“I decided to conduct a special military operation.” “The king shall false promise make And talk just for talking’s sake And nations plan horrific war The like as never seen before And taxes rise and lively down And nations wear perpetual frown.”
During the past weeks, we’ve delved into Biden’s empty promises that he’s made as an untruthful leader, as foreseen by the English Prophetess Mother Shipton almost five centuries ago.
“The king shall false promise make And talk just for talking’s sake And nations plan horrific war The like as never seen before And taxes rise and lively down And nations wear perpetual frown.”
Another so-called “king” that has a long history of broken promises is the leader of Russia, Vladimir Putin. In 2005, Putin promised that he would not raise the retirement age as long as he is president.
“Media Report from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – Jun. 29, 2021: I oppose raising the retirement age. As long as I am president, it won’t be raised.”
But in 2018, Putin signed a pension law that raised the retirement age to 65 for men, and 60 for women, while Russian men’s average life expectancy is a mere 67 years.
“Media Report from DW – Sep. 7, 2018: ‘Putin is a thief!’ they call out, because they’re afraid for their pensions. Women are supposed to work eight years longer, men, five years. But life expectancy isn’t that high in Russia – only 67.5 years for men, according to the Moscow School of Economics. About a sixth of men don’t even make it to the pension age. Complicating matters, many older workers can’t find more work. More than 80% of Russians are opposed to the pension reform. In recent months, thousands have joined protests and not just on the streets. 2.8 million people have signed an online petition.”
“Media Report from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – Jun. 20, 2021, (f): There are many people who are ill and unable to work physically, but they will still have to work.
(m): Men don’t live long in our country. With the increased retirement age, the number of those who make it [to retirement] will drop.
(m2): This is how [the government] makes money from people.”
Putin also promised a fair salary and pension that would allow people to live a decent life.
“Media Report from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – Jun. 20, 2021: Every working person in Russia must receive a decent salary. They should have the possibility to save enough money to maintain their lifestyle after retirement. At the same time, it’s very important that pensioners and disabled people who don’t have these possibilities today receive decent social benefits.”
But poverty is ever-growing in Russia. Many people don’t receive enough salary to make a living. For example, even doctors earn only about US$350 a month. And while a significant portion of the population doesn’t live to the age of retirement, even if they make it to receive a pension, life isn’t any easier for Russian citizens. With an average monthly pension of only about US$210, many still have to work to meet their living costs.
“Media Report from The Moscow Times – Jun. 8, 2019: When I started working in 2013, they told us that our salaries would increase to 50,000 or even 60,000 rubles (US$920) per month. Six years have passed, and [Putin’s] decree should have already been implemented. But nothing has changed.”
“Patrushevs YouTube Channel – May 2, 2022, (f1): My pension is 11,000 rubles (US$135). It’s even funny, our Russian pensioners. It’s not possible to survive on this pension of 11,000. That’s why we have to keep working. Probably until the very end!
(f2): My pension is just 10,000 rubles (US$125) per month. But you also have a social allowance... I have 2,000 rubles ($23-25) per month.”
“VASYA IN THE HAY YouTube Channel – Apr. 19, 2022, (m): How much is the retirement benefit now?
(f): I receive 16,000 rubles plus (US$200).
(m): 16,000, right?
(f): I’ve worked in a factory all my life. [Have] two grandkids. He works in a heat-treating department for 17,000 rubles… My son. How old are the kids? One is 17 years old and another 5. These are the kids. My son always had a salary of 50,000 rubles (US$625). But since summer, his salary was reduced. As they say, 'Leave if you don’t like it, or suck it up and work.’ That’s why granny works in the garden in summer.”
“Media Report from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – Jun. 29, 2021: I am a pensioner. And I am paid a little more than [US$200 per month]. Well, what can I say? He [Putin] is laughing at us and that's it. My life is a beggar’s life.”
“Media Report from DW News – Sep. 5, 2018: I’m 88 years old, and still have to work part time...”
“Media Report from UATV – Sep. 5, 2018, Reporter: Today almost 21 million people live below the poverty line in Russia. Their income is below the subsistence level which is 13,000 rubles, almost US$214. According to federal state statistics service of Russia, over the past few years, this figure has increased by 14%. Also, more than half of Russians have incomes below 25,000 rubles a month, it’s US$400. At the same time, the report of the Swiss bank Credit Suisse indicates that 1% of Russians own 60% of all national wealth, and their well-being is constantly growing.
Dr. Illia Neskhodovskyi, PhD: People are sent on unpaid leave. People start getting less or none at all. However, they are listed as employed. Therefore, the number of poor people will only increase. In addition, the increase in their social payments to the budget is insignificant.”
Meanwhile, Putin, his family, and allies are reportedly enjoying a lavish lifestyle and are among the wealthiest people on Earth. Officially Putin portrays himself as a frugal man, but this doesn’t match his actual lifestyle. According to a report, one of his toilet brushes costs US$850. As we just saw, this is more than double the amount of a doctor’s monthly salary, and considerably more money than the monthly wage or pension of most citizens in Russia.
“Media Report form WION – Mar. 17, 2022: How rich is Vladimir Putin? Here’s what the official records say: Putin’s annual salary is $140,000. His assets include one apartment, one trailer and three cars. Modest, simple, frugal. Well, not so fast. Unofficially, Putin could be a billionaire. According to one report, he could be the richest person on Earth. His net worth, almost $200 billion. Take a look at his assets. A mansion on the Black Sea worth $1 billion. It’s got a casino, a nightclub, the whole shebang. The sofas are worth $500,000, the bar table worth $54,000. Even the washrooms are minted. He’s got toilet brushes worth $850, paper rolls worth $1,200. Imagine maintaining a property of this scale. Well, you don’t have to imagine because we’ve got the numbers: $2 million and 40 employees, that’s what it takes to maintain this mansion and that’s where Putin allegedly holidays. But how does he get there? He can choose from this exhaustive list: 58 aircrafts, 700 cars, or perhaps the $100 million super-yacht. Vladimir Putin is spoiled for choice.”
“9 Figure Life YouTube Channel – Feb. 27, 2022: As president of Russia, Putin’s official residence is the Moscow Kremlin. However, he spends most of his time at a suburban government residence outside the city called Novo-Ogaryovo. On top of that, he reportedly has access to 20 different palaces and villas. Of the 20 state residences Putin had access to, nine were built during his tenure as president. On top of that, Putin was also accused of owning 58 different types of aircraft including a Dassault Falcon which seats 19. One of his planes was said to have an $11 million cabin fitted out by jewelers, and that the toilet cost close to a $100,000. This plane has room for up to 186 passengers. Putin is accused of owning five of these. Putin has a collection of four yachts, each costing thousands of dollars to maintain. Putin has been photographed wearing a number of expensive wristwatches collectively valued at $700,000 – nearly six times his annual salary. Putin has a stylist who’s been dressing him for over 10 years. The stylist rips off all the labels from his clothes so these do not accidentally catch the eye of journalists or paparazzi. Despite this, he was seen with a Loro Piana sweatpants that cost $1,425. Putin teamed this with a matching top making the outfit cost $3,200 in total, which, once more, is pocket money for Vladimir Putin. Anyway, despite Putin’s best efforts to conceal his billionaire fortune, there are many who have estimated him to be even richer than Jeff Bezos, and thus, even richer than Donald Trump or other world leaders that compete for the position.”
It is no wonder that the nation wears a “perpetual frown” just like Mother Shipton prophesied, with money being kept from deserving citizens whose lives could be changed with higher wages and pensions. We will look further into Putin’s rule through the lens of Mother Shipton’s prophecy in our next episode.
