Over 180,000 Russians Sign Petition Calling For Ouster Of Medvedev

Source: RFE/RL

More than 180,000 Russians have signed a petition calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev after his remarks about teachers' pay sparked outrage earlier this week.

The petition, posted on the website Change.org, had gathered 180,000 signatures by midday on August 5 and appeared to be accumulating supporters rapidly. The petition came after Medvedev on August 2 advised a low-paid teacher from the impoverished Daghestan region to go into business if he wants to make money, in comments that were widely seen as out-of-touch and uncaring.

"The cabinet should be led by a person who is competent, educated, and cares about the country," wrote the petition's author, Aleksandr Li. "We are seeing the opposite right now." The petition is addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had no comment.

Medvedev, when asked why teachers are paid half as much as police officers, retorted that "there's no need to compare. The issue is what you choose in life."

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