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Old Saint Basil's Cathedral in MoscowJohnson's Russia List title and scenes of Saint Petersburg
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#10 - JRL 9014 - JRL Home
Alexy II asks authorities to make changes painless for people

MOSCOW. Jan 13 (Interfax) - Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II has called on the Russian authorities to make the transition to a new system of benefits painless for all Russians.

"Changes must not under any circumstances deprive people of the possibility to use transport and communication tools, keep their housing and have access to medical aid and medicinal drugs. If this is not the case, a tragedy is inevitable for millions of our citizens who have worked for the good of the country all their lives and now need protection and care," he said in a statement made available to Interfax on Thursday.

Alexy II called on the authorities "to give people what they are entitled to under the law and the higher moral law as soon as possible" and on individuals who are hit by the reform "to keep a peaceful spirit and provide help [to find] an equitable resolution to the conflict."