MOSCOW -- After 26 years of serving as a captain in the Soviet Army, Nikolai Petrovich never imagined he'd be selling mushrooms past dark on a cold Moscow street corner. Petrovich, 75, says he remains a fervent supporter of President Vladimir Putin and that his $350 monthly pension check would normally suffice, if not for price hikes that have made this capital the most expensive in the world. "The government gives me some money, but prices have gone up so much, it's not enough," he says. "We must make some extra on our own."
As Russia Confronts Pension Shortfall, Some Advocate More Aggressive Investment of State Funds
