Former deputy Syarhei Kastsyan: My pension is not enough to buy books and newspapers
Nevertheless, former deputies of the house of representatives have to keep their pensions a secret. They are afraid to irritate the other, “ordinary” pensioners. “Of course, other people’s pensions are smaller that deputies’ pensions”, - confessed Liliya Kashankova, a former deputy, in an interview with ERB. However, she flatly refused to tell us the exact sum:
“So, what should I tell you? Phone the social welfare department, they will tell you. You see, I am a very modest person… I just want to say that it may irritate people I some way. Phone the social welfare department and ask what pensions former deputies get”.
Other former deputies we managed to phone also refused to tell us the sum of their pensions.
“I would not like to discuss my pension”, - says Nina Kabernik, former deputy of Zhlobin constituency.
ERB: Could you tell us the approximate sum? Is it more or less than 500 thousands?
Nіna Kabernіk: It is a bit more than 500 thousands.
Former deputies have to refuse many things regardless of their comparatively high pension. Thus, a former deputy, communist Syarhei Kastsyan, is the leader of the Slavonic movement. He cannot afford to read books and newspapers: the whole pension is spent on public transport fares and civil activities:
“...my civil activities are not paid for! The daily trip back and forth costs 2400 roubles. It is only the fare! Taking into account that our organization is not financed, we need this and that… Where should we get the things from? We use our pensions. We often lack money but we know that we may not get more in the future. So we have to refuse from some things. I cannot buy and read as many newspapers as I used to. I have almost stopped buying books. That is why it is not that simple”.
Interestingly, Mr.Kastsyan does not know what his pension is:
“To tell you the truth, I cannot answer you because I do not know it. I got my pension in December… But I have not understood how much it was. They gave me some money first and then took away some of it. I do not know for sure. I think that I will understand it when I get my pension in January”.
Former deputy Tamara Navasad is also engaged in civil activities after the retirement. However, unlike Mr. Kaststayn, she is able to read books:
“I read books and I can spend my time with my grandchildren. I can read books in the daytime now! I am so happy! I receive a pension and it is quite good and allows me to feel safe”.
ERB: Do you manage to make ends meet?
Tamara Navasad: (laughs) Well, have we ever been able to do it? We need to learn to live within our means. You know what? To tell you the truth, I was not ready for such a pension. We knew about it but… If is it needed, I can get a job. I am a teacher and I love my profession, so I am not afraid of it.
A pensioner Alena Stsyapanauna is a former teacher too. She has never been a deputy and gets an “ordinary” pension:
“Our pensions are not very small, they are average. Mine is 448 thousands… We live and we still manage to make ends meet. However, we have to see the new prices yet… We are not rich and we are not poor. We buy meat products but we chose the cheapest ones more often – dairy products and bread… We do not buy any clothes at all. We do not buy anything; we wear only the clothes we bought before”.
The ability to save helps a lot, says Alena Stsyapanauna. Probably that’s why they manage to make ends meet.
“So, what should I tell you? Phone the social welfare department, they will tell you. You see, I am a very modest person… I just want to say that it may irritate people I some way. Phone the social welfare department and ask what pensions former deputies get”.
Other former deputies we managed to phone also refused to tell us the sum of their pensions.
“I would not like to discuss my pension”, - says Nina Kabernik, former deputy of Zhlobin constituency.
ERB: Could you tell us the approximate sum? Is it more or less than 500 thousands?
Nіna Kabernіk: It is a bit more than 500 thousands.
Former deputies have to refuse many things regardless of their comparatively high pension. Thus, a former deputy, communist Syarhei Kastsyan, is the leader of the Slavonic movement. He cannot afford to read books and newspapers: the whole pension is spent on public transport fares and civil activities:
“...my civil activities are not paid for! The daily trip back and forth costs 2400 roubles. It is only the fare! Taking into account that our organization is not financed, we need this and that… Where should we get the things from? We use our pensions. We often lack money but we know that we may not get more in the future. So we have to refuse from some things. I cannot buy and read as many newspapers as I used to. I have almost stopped buying books. That is why it is not that simple”.
Interestingly, Mr.Kastsyan does not know what his pension is:
“To tell you the truth, I cannot answer you because I do not know it. I got my pension in December… But I have not understood how much it was. They gave me some money first and then took away some of it. I do not know for sure. I think that I will understand it when I get my pension in January”.
Former deputy Tamara Navasad is also engaged in civil activities after the retirement. However, unlike Mr. Kaststayn, she is able to read books:
“I read books and I can spend my time with my grandchildren. I can read books in the daytime now! I am so happy! I receive a pension and it is quite good and allows me to feel safe”.
ERB: Do you manage to make ends meet?
Tamara Navasad: (laughs) Well, have we ever been able to do it? We need to learn to live within our means. You know what? To tell you the truth, I was not ready for such a pension. We knew about it but… If is it needed, I can get a job. I am a teacher and I love my profession, so I am not afraid of it.
A pensioner Alena Stsyapanauna is a former teacher too. She has never been a deputy and gets an “ordinary” pension:
“Our pensions are not very small, they are average. Mine is 448 thousands… We live and we still manage to make ends meet. However, we have to see the new prices yet… We are not rich and we are not poor. We buy meat products but we chose the cheapest ones more often – dairy products and bread… We do not buy any clothes at all. We do not buy anything; we wear only the clothes we bought before”.
The ability to save helps a lot, says Alena Stsyapanauna. Probably that’s why they manage to make ends meet.
