Russian Poverty Rates

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he aims to cut his country's "unacceptable" poverty rate in half over the next six years, in a state of the nation address on Thursday.

Russian poverty rates will return to 2007 levels this year as the economy continues to contract and inflation reduces people's purchasing power, the World Bank said on Wednesday.

Russian government plans for mass destruction of banned Western food imports have provoked outrage in a country where poverty rates are soaring and memories remain of famine during Soviet times.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he aims to cut his country's "unacceptable" poverty rate in half over the next six years, in a state of the nation address on Thursday.

Russian poverty rates will return to 2007 levels this year as the economy continues to contract and inflation reduces people's purchasing power, the World Bank said on Wednesday.

Russian government plans for mass destruction of banned Western food imports have provoked outrage in a country where poverty rates are soaring and memories remain of famine during Soviet times.