Support The Moscow Times!

Russia’s Economy Hits Pre-Coronavirus Size – Central Bank

As Russia’s largest cities start reintroducing coronavirus restrictions, economy hits recovery milestone.

Russia's economy contracted by 3% during 2020. Anton Novoderezhkin / TASS

Russia’s economy has become one of the first in the world to reach its pre-coronavirus size, Russia’s Central Bank governor said Tuesday.

In a speech to lawmakers, Elvira Nabiullina said the Russian economy had regained all its losses since the start of the coronavirus pandemic last spring.

“The economy has recovered to its pre-crisis level, and in many industries it has exceeded it and continues to grow,” she said.

Russia’s economy contracted by 3% in 2020 — knocked by a six-week nationwide lockdown, prolonged closures of service industries and cuts in oil production in a bid to stabilize prices.

Economists say Russia’s economy suffered significantly less than others, in part due to the small size of the Russian service economy — which has been hit hardest by the pandemic — and the large role of state in the economy, which has cushioned the economic fallout. It has also bounced back strongly during the first months of 2021, with no significant coronavirus-related restrictions in force and many large companies reporting record profits.

A looming third wave of infections, however, could yet disrupt the recovery. Moscow workers are currently on a week-long paid vacation, designed to keep them out of offices and off public transport networks in order to act as a circuit breaker, with cases having risen exponentially in recent days. Restaurants, cafes and bars will be forced to close at 11 p.m. and companies must ensure at least 30% of their non-vaccinated staff are at home.

A number of other cities and regions, including Euro 2020 host city St. Petersburg, have also reintroduced some coronavirus restrictions.

Nabiullina has joined those criticizing the slow pace of Russia’s vaccination campaign, with only around 12.5% of Russians having received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine. On Friday, she linked the pace of vaccinations with Russia’s investment climate, saying foreign investors would look much more favorably on economies with a high rate of vaccinations.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more