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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: RUSSIA SANCTIONS
HEADLINE: As Sanctions Bite, Russians Seem Worried – and Skeptical
TEASER: Rising prices and supply shortages are gripping Russia like they are in much of the world, but economists say sanctions are making things worse.
PUBLISHED AT: 6/16/2022 AT
BYLINE: Ricardo Marquina DO NOT USE NAME
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Moscow
VIDEOGRAPHER: Ricardo Marquina DO NOT USE NAME, Agency
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original, Reuters
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: English narration by Jonathan Spier))
((INTRO)) [[The economic sanctions imposed on Russia after its military intervention in Ukraine are causing a domino effect across all spheres of the country's economy. For the average Russian – that translates into a sharp rise in prices. Jonathan Spier narrates this report from Moscow.]]
((VIDEO: Supermarket, products, people, prices. ORIGINAL VOA))
((NARRATOR))
Grocery shopping in a Russian supermarket today is up to 20% more expensive than it would have been before Vladimir Putin sent his troops into Ukraine.
The price increase affects all products, while others, produced in the West, have stopped reaching the shelves altogether. Analysts say the situation may get worse.
[[RADIO VERSION: Natalia Zubarevich is a Moscow-based economist.]]
((Natalia Zubarevich, Economist – FEMALE IN RUSSIAN ) (VOA))
((via Skype))
“The sanctions will last for a long time. Not for months, but for years. ((FLASH)) Incomes will not increase for a long time. People will become poorer.”
((VIDEO: Workers at the Ulianovsk UAZ factory ORIGINAL VOA))
((NARRATOR))
Western sanctions have left Russian manufacturers without spare parts and other materials. Analysts say sales volumes in some sectors, such as the automobile industry, have fallen by more than 80%.
[[RADIO VERSION: Dmitry Potapenko is a Moscow businessman and economist.]]
((Dmitry Potapenko, Businessman – MALE IN RUSSIAN ) ( VOA))
“The situation in Russia is, though slowly, changing for the worst because on the one hand, there are branches of industry that have completely ceased to exist.”
((VIDEO: Moscow, people, city scenes. ORIGINAL VOA))
((NARRATOR))
The official figures paint a different picture.
((VIDEO: Putin ministerial meeting REUTERS))
The Russian president recently praised Russia’s reported low unemployment numbers.
((Vladimir Putin, Russian President – MALE IN RUSSIAN ) ( REUTERS))
“I would like to point out the low unemployment rate. In April, the unemployment rate in Russia was at a historical low and, in May, the number of officially registered unemployed people did not increase, and even declined slightly.”
((VIDEO: Moscow, people, city scenes ORIGINAL VOA))
((NARRATOR))
On the streets, the perception of the crisis varies between skepticism and concern.
[[RADIO VERSION: Estela Kámeneva used to work in the film industry. She is now unemployed and struggling to live with rising prices.]]
((Estela Kámeneva, Unemployed Film Professional FEMALE IN RUSSIAN)( ORIGINAL VOA))
“Inflation certainly affects us because the prices have increased considerably, to add to that, especially on medications, on food.”
[[RADIO VERSION: Artyom Borok works in IT and is also worried.]]
((Artyom Borok, Computer Scientist – MALE IN RUSSIAN ) (ORIGINAL VOA))
“All the food products have become more expensive. Practically all of them! Quite considerably!”
[[RADIO VERSION: Some are conscious that Russians are not alone in dealing with rapidly rising prices and growing shortages. Roman Markov, who lives off his pension, sees things from a wider perspective and doesn’t blame the sanctions for a much wider cost-of-living crisis.]]
((Roman Markov, Pensioner (MAN IN RUSSIAN) (ORIGINAL VOA)
“It does not affect Russia much. I have no idea what is going on abroad. In the US and Europe, the inflation is very high. It does not affect Russia.”
((VIDEO: Moscow, people, city scenes - ORIGINAL VOA))
((NARRATOR))
As economists predict a continued increase in prices and the crippling of some industries due to supply shortages, on the streets of Moscow, it may appear to be just another summer.
((JONATHAN SPIER, VOA NEWS))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJune 16, 2022 11:45 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
