Russia was aiming for “normal” at the St. Petersburg business forum. But the blows of the pandemic were also on display.

Contrary to Putin’s optimistic message, Russia has struggled. It recorded around 475,000 deaths above normal rates, considered by demographers to be the best way to measure the toll of the virus, between the start of the pandemic and the end of April, according to the Moscow Times, which analyzed the data. from the Russian state statistical agency. (The official coronavirus headquarters in Russia have claimed an estimated 123,000 coronavirus-related deaths.)

–