May 21st 2020
Editors note: Some of our covid-19 coverage is free for readers of The Economist Today, our daily newsletter. For more stories and our pandemic tracker, see our hub
RUSSIA IS MORE successful in fighting covid-19 than the West, thanks to its superior health-care system and excellent leadership. Though faced with one of the highest rates of infection, its fatality rate is a seventh of that in most countries. That is, if you believe Russian statistics.
Few independent experts do. Russia has officially recorded just over 300,000 cases of covid-19 and 2,900 deaths, which makes its fatality rate less than 1%, compared with 4.5% in Germany and 14% in Britain. Yet the fatality rate among Russias front-line health professionals, who keep their own records, is about 16 times as high as in comparable countries, which suggests that the official figures are much too rosy.
Nonetheless, these were the figures that on May 11th led Vladimir Putin, Russias president, to order an end to a period of non-working days, a euphemism for a national lockdown that he never officially declared. Although he transferred responsibility for retaining restrictions to regional authorities, he signalled that Russia was through the worst. We must give thanks to our doctors and our president, who works day and night to save lives, Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the Duma, declared.
The Russian government was upset when, on the same day, the Financial Times reported that the real death toll could be 70% higher; the New York Times quoted an expert as saying it could be nearly three times the official tally. These estimates were derived by calculating excess deaths. One member of the Duma demanded that the journalists accreditation be revoked. Kremlin mouthpieces denounced what they called an orchestrated attack on Russia by the West.
Meanwhile, some Russian doctors on social media say they were told to keep numbers low by including in the covid statistics only those who died directly of the disease, not those who had underlying conditions that might have contributed to their demise. Victims relatives are furious.
Adding weight to the suspicion are the improbable figures posted by some regions. For example, in Krasnodar, a region with 5.2m people, the number of reported infections has fluctuated only minutely, between 96 cases and 99 cases a day for the past two weeks. Statistically speaking, that is extremely unlikely.
Several other regions have produced odd statistics. They show the number of infections recorded in regional centres and those recorded in adjacent territories fluctuating in opposite directions, thus balancing each other out and producing a straight line of cases across the region.
The official numbers reveal less about covid-19 than they do about Russias political system, which, like its Soviet predecessor, is saturated with lies. Russian elections throw up similarly strange graphics. Many Russian athletes during the Sochi winter Olympics in 2014 took performance-enhancing drugs, and their cheating was covered up by secretly swapping urine samples with official connivance.
Konstantin Sonin of the University of Chicago says the problem is not that the Kremlin hides or distorts figures, but that it often does not have them in the first place. Most regional bigwigs are not accountable to voters but are entirely dependent on the Kremlin for status and money. They file rosy reports so as to appear to be meeting official targets. The aim is to please the president, not the people. The Kremlin does not even need to tell them what figures to report; they know to report what the Kremlin likes to hear, he says.
Over the past few weeks Russian state television has provided a perfect illustration of this system. In the West officials have at least tried to communicate with their electorates and the media. On Russian television people see their officials reporting to the self-isolated Mr Putin via a videoconference screen. The screen resembles a Russian Orthodox icon: Mr Putin is displayed in a large central box, surrounded by 12 apostles in smaller boxes.
Yet this manufactured image is starting to crack. Mr Putins ratings have dropped to historic lows in recent weeks. On May 17th the health minister in Dagestan, a Russian territory of 3m people in the North Caucasus, told a local blogger that the true number of infections on his patch was four times that reported, and that outbreaks of pneumonia had killed 657 people, not the officially recorded 27. Fully 40 medics had died of it. Mr Putin blamed citizens for trying to treat themselves at home.
Some big cities have been more open than the Kremlin. Moscow admitted that the real number of cases could be significantly higher than officially reported, and retained a lockdown.
The Kremlins handling of the crisis reminds some of the cover-up of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, which prompted Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet leader, to launch glasnost, a campaign for more openness. The whole system is penetrated by the spirit of bootlicking, persecution of dissidents, clannishness, window-dressing. We will put an end to all this, Mr Gorbachev told his politburo at the time. Mr Putin, who began his presidency 20 years ago by covering up the sinking of the Kursk submarine, is determined not to repeat the glasnost experiment, which helped to bring the whole system crashing down.
This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline "The anatomy of lies"
Originally posted here:
Russias covid-19 outbreak is far worse than the Kremlin admits - The Economist
- The Splendour of Life, Starring Anatomy of a Fall Actor Camille Rutherford, Picked Up by H264 (EXCLUSIVE) - Variety - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Greys Anatomy Sneak Peek: Its Tears for Fears in Your First Look at the Midseason Premiere - TVLine - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Can a Longtime Greys Anatomy Stan Learn to Love the Grim Medical Reality of The Pitt? - Vogue - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Greys Anatomy Is Coming Back Next MonthHeres What We Know About That Cliff-Hanger - Glamour - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- New Extremity Box Set Collects 'High Tension,' 'Anatomy of Hell,' 'Frontier(s),' 'Martyrs' on Blu-ray - Bloody Disgusting - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- When Does 'Grey's Anatomy' Return With New Episodes? - TV Insider - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Books of Discovery Expands Access to Premier Anatomy and Physiology Textbooks for Educators and Students - EIN News - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- 10 Scenes That Made Grey's Anatomy Fans Quit the Show (& Never Look Back) - CBR - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Leonardo da Vincis incredible studies of human anatomy still dont get the recognition they deserve - The Conversation - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- The anatomy of a transfer as told by those who make a deal happen - The Athletic - The Athletic - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- Nvidia plunge on DeepSeek news illustrates the anatomy of a bubble bursting - Axios - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- How Sarah Drew Turned Her 'Grey's Anatomy' Firing Into a Teachable Moment for Her Kids (Exclusive) - Entertainment Tonight - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- Anatomy of a retraction: When cleaning up the literature takes six years - Retraction Watch - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- 2024s Most-Streamed Series Revealed: Bluey, Greys Anatomy, Family Guy and More - Variety - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- Sarah Drew Explains How Her Son Micah, 13, Helped Her Get Over the 'Pain' of Leaving Grey's Anatomy - PEOPLE - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- Who is Henry in Grey's Anatomy? - Soap Central - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- Who is the Director of Grey's Anatomy? - Soap Central - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- Is Grey's Anatomy over? - Soap Central - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- Grey's Anatomy Beaten by Beloved Animated Series as 2024's Most-Streamed TV Show - CBR - February 3rd, 2025 [February 3rd, 2025]
- Here's When Grey's Anatomy Will Return In 2025 (Confirmed) - The Direct - January 23rd, 2025 [January 23rd, 2025]
- 10 Greys Anatomy Episodes to Revisit While We Wait for Season 21 to Return - Shondaland.com - January 23rd, 2025 [January 23rd, 2025]
- Charlies Beat: Learning the Anatomy of a Song - Madison Courier - January 23rd, 2025 [January 23rd, 2025]
- Anatomy of a Thriller: The Story of UMass 3OT Win Over Fordham - A10Talk - January 23rd, 2025 [January 23rd, 2025]
- Anatomy of a Wrestler: What Makes J'den Cox a Powerhouse on the Matt? - Olympics - January 23rd, 2025 [January 23rd, 2025]
- Former Grey's Anatomy writer Elisabeth Finch, who faked cancer, slammed for soliciting donations during L.A. fires - Entertainment Weekly News - January 23rd, 2025 [January 23rd, 2025]
- Bitwig Connect 4/12, audio/MIDI interface makes a bridge between software and external gear - Synth Anatomy - January 23rd, 2025 [January 23rd, 2025]
- Anatomy of a fall: How Bangladesh's local government was left crippled - The Business Standard - January 23rd, 2025 [January 23rd, 2025]
- Meredith's Grey's Anatomy Season 21 Dilemma Exposed 1 Original Character's Overlooked Flaw - Screen Rant - January 23rd, 2025 [January 23rd, 2025]
- KV331 Audio Synthmaster 3, new update 3.1.1 with drum part layer and more for NAMM 2025 - Synth Anatomy - January 23rd, 2025 [January 23rd, 2025]
- Greys Anatomy writer who faked cancer accused of new scam - NJ.com - January 23rd, 2025 [January 23rd, 2025]
- Former Grey's Anatomy writer slammed for soliciting donations during LA fires - Daily Express US - January 23rd, 2025 [January 23rd, 2025]
- Melbourne Instruments will showcase a motorized MIDI controller at NAMM 2025 - Synth Anatomy - January 23rd, 2025 [January 23rd, 2025]
- Achieve 17/20 On This Anatomy Quiz And Prove You're No Skeletal Simpleton - BuzzFeed - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- Insane MRI images: How one couple redefined anatomy with science - New Zealand Herald - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- Grey's Anatomy Season 21 Bringing Back 1 Forgotten Doctor Can Give A Proper Ending To An Unfair Plot - Screen Rant - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- ABC's Big Thursday Night Change Hasn't Been Good For Grey's Anatomy, So What Does The Ratings Dip Mean For 2025? - CinemaBlend - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- The complex anatomy of the bronchial arteries: a meta-analysis with potential implications for thoracic surgery and hemoptysis treatment - Nature.com - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- Grey's Anatomy Is Throwing Back To Derek And Meredith's First Meeting To Celebrate The New Year, And I'm McDreaming Of How It All Began - CinemaBlend - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- Jim Harbaugh provides anatomy lesson during preview of cold-weather New England game - Awful Announcing - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- Grey's Anatomy Season 21 Nailed The Darkest Reality Of Working At Grey Sloan - Screen Rant - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- Grey's Anatomy Is 1 Step Closer to Landing an Owen Hunt Replacement Thanks to a Star Who Left the Show 7 Years Ago - CBR - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- 'Grey's Anatomy' Stars Share Mystery Drone Theories - Newsweek - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- Yasuda's Grey's Anatomy Ending Revealed Just How Badly The Show Has Wasted 1 Major Character Return - Screen Rant - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- The anatomy of a scoring run for the ages - Peachtree Hoops - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- Grey's Anatomy's Biggest 2024 Exit Is The Worst I've Felt Since George's Death 15 Year Ago - Screen Rant - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- 'Grey's Anatomy' Star Jesse Williams And His Ex-Wife Ordered To Mediate Their Custody Battle - Yahoo Entertainment - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- Grey's Anatomy Star Addresses Potential Return Future After Quietly Exiting The Series 7 Years Ago - Screen Rant - December 23rd, 2024 [December 23rd, 2024]
- Martin Henderson Would Return To Greys Anatomy If There Is Really Clear Plan For Nathan - Deadline - December 23rd, 2024 [December 23rd, 2024]
- Anatomy of the Bank Runs in March 2023 - Liberty Street Economics - - December 23rd, 2024 [December 23rd, 2024]
- The Room Next Door | Anatomy of a Scene - The New York Times - December 23rd, 2024 [December 23rd, 2024]
- Greys Anatomy Star Adelaide Kane on Jules Heartbreak, Breaking Down Her Icy Exterior, and Whats to Come for the Rest of the Season - Shondaland.com - December 23rd, 2024 [December 23rd, 2024]
- 'Grey's Anatomy' Star Reveals Show Storyline That 'Stuck With' Her - Newsweek - December 23rd, 2024 [December 23rd, 2024]
- Greys Anatomy Cast Changes Amid Mid-Season Finale Revealed: 3 Actors Left the Show, But Multiple Stars Recently Joined! - Just Jared - December 23rd, 2024 [December 23rd, 2024]
- Anatomy Raises $19 Million Series A to Scale Their AI Healthcare Lockbox - Business Wire - December 23rd, 2024 [December 23rd, 2024]
- Virgin River Star Martin Henderson Is Open to Returning to Greys Anatomy - TV Insider - December 23rd, 2024 [December 23rd, 2024]
- Katherine Heigl handles unfiltered anatomy talk with Poise - Campaign US - December 23rd, 2024 [December 23rd, 2024]
- 'Grey's Anatomy' Star Reveals Surprising 'Rule' on Set - Newsweek - December 23rd, 2024 [December 23rd, 2024]
- Katherine Heigl references 'Grey's Anatomy' in new ad for taboo product - Newsweek - December 23rd, 2024 [December 23rd, 2024]
- Katherine Heigl cracks Greys Anatomy joke in bladder leak ad: I used to be a doctor - New York Post - December 23rd, 2024 [December 23rd, 2024]
- Virgin River Star Martin Henderson Is Open to Returning to Greys Anatomy - Black Hills Pioneer - December 23rd, 2024 [December 23rd, 2024]
- FBI recordings show the anatomy of an alleged Chinatown corruption scheme - WBEZ Chicago - December 23rd, 2024 [December 23rd, 2024]
- Anatomy of a comeback: Arkansas State rallies from 25 down to beat UAB - KSL.com - December 23rd, 2024 [December 23rd, 2024]
- Anatomy of a comeback: Arkansas State rallies from 25 down to beat UAB - News-Herald.com - December 23rd, 2024 [December 23rd, 2024]
- Virgin River Star Martin Henderson Is Open to Returning to Greys Anatomy - News-Daily.com - December 23rd, 2024 [December 23rd, 2024]
- What Happened with ISU and Bannock County Lab Money? Anatomy of a Malfeasance? - Idaho Freedom - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Midori Francis On Her Greys Anatomy Exit, The Scene That Made Her Break Character & If She Would Come Back - Deadline - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Grey's Anatomy star Kevin McKidd praises co-stars and crew for their support after the death of his father - Daily Mail - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- The Ineffable Beauty of Grief on Greys Anatomy - Shondaland.com - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Mika's Emotional Grey's Anatomy Exit & Potential Future Addressed By Star" "For Mika, It Would Be Triggering" - Screen Rant - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Greys Anatomy Says a Heartbreaking Goodbye to Yasuda but Who Got Shot? - TheWrap - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- The anatomy of a college football rivalry: What makes a heated feud? - FanSided - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Greys Anatomy Recap: Stayin Alive - Vulture - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- 'Grey's Anatomy': Sophia Bush Returns, a Big Loss Brings New Perspective and 1 Doctor's Life Hangs in the Balance - PEOPLE - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Functional anatomy of the subthalamic nucleus and the pathophysiology of cardinal features of Parkinsons disease unraveled by focused ultrasound... - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Grey's Anatomy: Sophia Bush Returns, a Big Loss Brings New Perspective and 1 Doctor's Life Hangs in the Balance - Yahoo Entertainment - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Your Official Greys Anatomy Recap: The Mid-Season Finale! - Shondaland.com - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- What Happened To Mika In Grey's Anatomy Season 21, Episode 8? Midori Francis's Exit Explained - Screen Rant - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- On Set: Greys Anatomy Stars Share a Moment Theyll Never Forget - Shondaland.com - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Revealing the larval anatomy of the hoverfly Sphaerophoria rueppellii (Wiedemann, 1820) (Diptera, Syrphidae) using micro-computed tomography -... - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Jessica Capshaw and Camilla Luddington on worst 'Grey's Anatomy' guest star: 'Yelled at everyone' - Yahoo Entertainment - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]