Prime Minister Vladimir Putin pledged on Tuesday to improve facilities for the estimated 13 million people living with disabilities in Russia.
"Out goal is to change the situation for the better, to create conditions for an active and normal life for our people, as it is done in the majority of the developed countries," Putin told a government meeting.
Disabled access to transport and most apartment blocks remains a rarity in Russia. The issue has begun cropping up on the country's agenda more and more frequently in recent months, with President Dmitry Medvedev mentioning it in his state of the nation address in November.
"We are facing a challenge: to break the existing barriers facing the disabled, to do away with everything that restricts public access to transport, education, medical help and employment," Putin said.
MOSCOW, December 21 (RIA Novosti)
