Russia In The Time Of Coronavirus, Part V
Russia finally postpones the May 9 Victory Day celebrations as reality sets in. Vladimir Putin’s approval rating craters as new COVID-19 cases increase for six consecutive days, the virus spreads to every region, and Russia now ranks 12th in the world in confirmed infections. And chaotic scenes unfold at the Moscow Metro as the capital’s digital pass system hits a snag.
Russia’s response to the unique coronavirus has left a lot to be desired, but let’s face it, they aren’t alone in that department. But in a highly personalized and highly centralized system, the consequences there could be severe and the stakes are clearly high.
Listen to episode 68 of the Power Vertical Podcast as Brian Whitmore, Maria Snegovaya, and Donald N. Jensen dissect the latest from Russia in a time of infected politics.
Read the report mentioned in this episode here.
Intro Audio Clip: “Message from the President to the Federal Assembly” via the Kremlin under CC BY 4.0.
Photo: “A meeting on the progress of construction and re-profiling of medical institutions in the regions” by the Kremlin under CC BY-SA 4.0.
WP Post Author
Brian Whitmore is Director of the Russia Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis. Before joining CEPA he was Senior Russia Analyst at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. He also worked as a foreign correspondent for The Boston Globe in Moscow and Prague; as a graduate instructor in the Department of Government and International Studies at the University of South Carolina; and as a visiting lecturer in the History Faculty at Mechnikov National University in Odessa, Ukraine and the International Relations Faculty at St. Petersburg State University.
April 17, 2020
The Power Vertical is a CEPA podcast covering the Kremlin for Kremlin watchers. All opinions are those of the guests and do not necessarily represent the position or views of the institutions they represent or the Center for European Policy Analysis.
