Putin remains isolated, despite having received two doses of the vaccine

MOSCOW.- Russian President Vladimir Putin, 68, has no prospect of breaking the isolation it has maintained since the start of the pandemic last year, despite the fact that he said he received the first dose of the vaccine seven weeks ago and the second component a month ago. “He is the only world leader who has been isolated from people for a year”Russian research site Proekt warned.

Putin, 68, has been living in one of the most protected virus-free bubbles since the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic began to hit Russia. He normally works via video link at his residence on the outskirts of Moscow, which is equipped with a disinfection tunnel, while his few in-person visitors must spend two weeks in quarantine before meeting him.

“It is very likely that Putin lived in isolation for a long timeProekt said, citing an anonymous person close to the presidential administration.

An employee of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg said museum officials “were locked up before Putin’s visit on April 27. This measure also applied to people who were to be near the president during the victory parade on May 9. Protocol officers and photographers were previously isolated for two weeks at the President Hotel, MoscowA source close to the Kremlin pointed out.

Likewise, all journalists and employees of the Kremlin administration who may come into contact with the president in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum At the beginning of June, they will be quarantined from May 20.

The Kremlin has not commented on Proekt’s report on Putin’s isolation.

The BBC’s Russian service reported that the billions of rubles spent on Putin’s efforts to protect against the virus went largely to quarantine journalists, drivers and pilots who may come into contact with him.

Last year, Russia imposed one of the world’s toughest coronavirus closures with sealed borders, closed businesses, and movement permits with QR codes in Moscow, the epicenter of the Covid-outbreak. 19 in Russia. Since then, most restrictions have been lifted across the country, and life in Moscow has practically returned to normal since the start of 2021.

Putin hailed three vaccines developed by Russia as key to the country’s goal of developing herd immunity for the purposes of the Russian Federation. But the current vaccination rate suggests that Russia is on track to have fully vaccinated 70% of its population. only in mid-2022.

THE NATION