Putin calls for revival of provincial intelligentsia as moral pillar of Russia

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MOSCOW. Dec 12 (Interfax) – Provincial intelligentsia should be revived as a moral pillar of the country, President Vladimir Putin said in the state-of-the-nation address he presented at the parliament on Wednesday.

“I would like to speak particularly about the social sphere. Specialists working in this field are formally indentified as ‘public sector employees’. These people have a good education and skills; they are a part of the so-called creative class by the nature of their work, cultural demands and social activity,” Putin said.

He said that intelligentsia had been traditionally described as “the creative class.”

“These are teachers, doctors, college professors, scientists and cultural workers. Such people work in every region, in every village and in very city,” the president said.

“Their incomes fall short of the middle class standards: they cannot afford normal vacations, a comfortable life and professional development and they have to seek extra jobs,” he said.

“We will support the revival of provincial intelligentsia, which has been a professional and moral pillar of Russia in all times,” Putin stressed.

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