The number of coronavirus cases in Russia has increased to 232,243 on Tuesday, the 2nd highest number of infections in the world surpassing the tallies in Spain and the UK. In 24 hours, 10,899 new cases were added taking the total figure to 232,243, according to TASS News Agency. A total of 43,512 patients have recovered, while 2,116 people have died, it added.
However, many observers are questioning these figures. Journalists and social activists have been punching a hole in the claims of Russia’s healthcare authorities. The management of the coronavirus crisis has taken a toll on Vladimir Putin’s reputation.
According to critics, Russia is facing acute shortages of vital medical supplies. Russia’s efforts to shut down independent reporting on the crisis has failed. Yelizabeta Kipranova, a correspondent for the independent Novayagazeta.ru outlet, has published a series of articles on Russia’s handling of the coronavirus. According to Kipranova, whistleblower-physicians who exposed the equipment shortages, had faced harassment from their superiors, officialdom and law enforcement bodies.
Yelizabeta Kipranova, a journalist, writes in her report: “For over a month now, Russian doctors are reporting that they lack personal protective equipment against coronavirus. Even the most ordinary medical masks are in short supply, not to mention respirators and special anti-plague suits. The independent “Doctors Alliance” trade union claims that three hundred hospitals reported the lack of protective equipment. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin finally recognized the existence of the problem. The head of state proposed the creation of a special federal protective equipment reserve so that ‘it would be possible to provide assistance in an expeditious manner’.”
Many doctors are afraid to talk about problems for fear of persecution and harassment. Tatyana Revva, resuscitation specialist at the Central Clinical Hospital in Kalach-on-Don, had highlighted the problems to the higher-ups. She says: “After my letter was published, I had to provide explanations to law enforcement agencies several times. The head doctor saw a screenshot of my appeal on the Internet in one of the local social networks and wrote a statement to the police…he also contacted the prosecutor’s office and said that I intentionally was spreading panic.
“The prosecutor’s office [argued that my actions fall under] the article 13.15 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (abuse of freedom of the media). I was again summoned to the police, I gave an explanation with a lawyer and backed up my statements with all the documents. It was quiet for a few weeks, but on April 21, the investigator called and said that I needed to be questioned as part of an inspection of the medical institutions and officials. Prior to the interview, the investigator warned me about the law ‘on fake news’.
“This whole situation makes me very angry. I do not understand why we should be silent. All health workers must protect their colleagues and make the problems public – this is the only way to change anything in Russia.”
(The quotes were taken from Memri website.)
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