MOSCOW: Years ago, it was rare to see a pensioner in Moscow well-dressed. Many senior citizens stood by popular metro stations selling cigarettes or flowers to supplement their pension.
Russian pensions have risen several fold over the years, outpacing inflation, while many Moscow families have more money to support their parents.
Though many pensioners still sell goods on the road on at train stations in regional towns, the number of pensioners selling goods on Moscow’s streets has fallen.
This senior citizen reminded me of the changes over the past fifteen years. She stood out even from the fashionable crowd outside one of Moscow’s busiest shopping centers.
