A DIFFERENTIATED APPROACH TO THE RIGHT TO EARLY RETIREMENT FOR CITIZENS AFFECTED BY THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT ACCIDENT

Abstract

The Russian Federation is experiencing differences in approaches to providing preferential pensions to citizens who previously resided in areas contaminated after the Chernobyl accident and now belong to the Republic of Belarus. These differences arise because documents confirming residence in contaminated zones are issued by either Russian or Belarusian authorities. The Russian Social Fund denies early retirement to those who present documents issued by the Belarusian authorities, which contradicts the constitutional principle of equality before the law. The absence of a locality from Russia's list of contaminated areas should not be grounds for denying social benefits, as the determining factor is the very fact of residence in a contaminated area and the extent of the damage suffered, not the nationality of the area.