Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of Russia's Federation Council (upper house of parliament), has proposed the creation of a Ministry of Loneliness in Russia. She says the country can draw on the experience of the UK, where a loneliness minister was recently appointed.
"Loneliness of older people is a very important problem. They need daily attention. Not so much money as attention," RIA Novosti cited Matviyenko (link in Russian)
In 2016, Valentina Matviyenko offered to create a Ministry of Happiness - but this wasn't supported.
Do you feel lonely in the big city? Find out how spending time at Moscow's cat cafe can really help.
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