Corruption and the COVID-19 Crisis in Russia: A Deep Dive
The Russian Federation, spanning Eastern Europe and northern Asia, has been an enigmatic global player. But, the recent havoc wreaked by the COVID-19 pandemic has opened a new chapter in the annals of its history — a chapter marked by the virus’s devastating health and economic impacts, further intensified by endemic corruption and systemic mismanagement.
Corruption: The Russian Quandary
Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2021 unearths the grave extent of corruption in Russia. A ranking of 137th out of 180 countries is a stark indicator that corruption is not an outlier, but deeply embedded within the Russian bureaucracy and public institutions. When corruption becomes a systemic issue, the very foundation on which the governance and public sector operate is compromised, undermining the common good and public welfare.
Healthcare Under Siege
One of the most critical infrastructures that the pandemic affected globally was the healthcare system. For Russia, it was no different, but the existence of rampant corruption made the situation even more precarious. Underfunding, poor infrastructure, inadequate salaries, and a significant transparency deficit have perennially plagued the Russian healthcare system. This, combined with the COVID-19 outbreak, created a perfect storm, endangering countless lives.
Several instances throughout the pandemic highlighted the depth of the rot:
Manipulating the Numbers: When a health crisis is seen as an image problem rather than a genuine challenge requiring dedicated action, the public suffers. The alleged underreporting of COVID-19 cases and associated deaths undermined public trust, which is fundamental in a health crisis. Misrepresentation of data not only erodes trust but also derails strategies aimed at controlling the pandemic.
Financial Misappropriations: Funds meant for healthcare relief and medical supplies were reportedly misused. Cases like the arrest of Moscow’s former health minister for allegedly stealing ventilators worth over $10 million or the St. Petersburg hospital director’s accusation of procuring substandard protective gear at exorbitant prices, showcases the depravity of corruption in a time of crisis.
Vaccine Diplomacy over Public Health: Russia’s foray into vaccine development resulted in Sputnik V. But the rapid approval, bypassing extensive clinical trials, was a cause for concern. What followed seemed less about public health and more about geopolitics. While vaccine diplomacy might boost international prestige, domestically, it led to skepticism. The result? As of February 2022, a meager 30% vaccination rate in Russia versus 70% in countries like France.
Human & Economic Costs
As of September 2023, the official numbers from the World Health Organization point to a grim situation in Russia: over 10 million confirmed cases and a staggering 300,000 deaths. Beyond these immediate health concerns, the economic ramifications have been crippling. The already existing socio-economic disparities have further widened, pushing a large swath of the Russian population into the abyss of poverty.
