Page 23 - RusRPTSept20

would-be candidates to collect signatures from local deputies, has become a key tool to bar unwanted candidates from running. In the Arkhangelsk region, it prevented Oleg Mandrikyn, a candidate from the opposition “Yabloko” party supported by the local civil society, from running in the gubernatorial race. But in an increasingly uncertain political and economic context, it is not only used against outright opposition politicians. This year, five candidates from the Communist Party and one from A Just Russia also did not pass the filter. According to Kommersant, sources explain that "for the second year in a row, the Kremlin is trying to insure itself as much as possible against the possibility of second rounds.”
2.11 Polls & Sociology
The popularity of the ruling United Russia party fell again to 30.5% ahead of key regional elections in Russia slated for September 11-13, a poll by the state-owned pollster, the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM) and the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM), reported on August 24. The party, which won a majority in the Duma at the last elections, has been losing popularity steadily in recent years. The upcoming local elections and will give control of regional councils and cities. The Kremlin has been struggling to keep control of regional politics and has been wrong-footed by surprise victories in some regions. In the most high-profile case, widespread protests in the eastern city of Khabarovsk are now in their seventh week after the authorities arrested and removed the regional governor Sergey Furgal, who was elected as governor in a surprise victory at local elections.
A majority of Russians don't want to be vaccinated against coronavirus, according to a survey, which showed only 42% of the country wants to be immunized with the homegrown 'Sputnik V' formula, unveiled in August. On August 11, Russia's president Vladimir Putin announced that the country had registered the world's first Covid-19 vaccine, developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology. The vaccine will be available to the general public from January 2021, but is to be offered to teachers and medical workers first.
3.0 Macro Economy 3.1 Macroeconomic overview
The revised fiscal outlook prepared by Russia's Ministry of Economic Development for September might include a notable upwards revision of GDP forecasts from previous 5% recession to 3.9% recession expected in 2020, Kommersant daily reports on August 31 citing unnamed sources.
Reportedly, the ministry is encouraged by the faster-than-expected recovery of domestic demand in summer 2020, as well as other economic indicators in 2Q20.
As a result, investment is also expected to shrink only by 6.6% in 2020 versus previous 12% decline expectations. The ministry also reportedly expects the GDP to recover to pre-crisis levels by 3Q21.
Analysts surveyed by Kommersant daily believe that upwards revision of 2020
23 RUSSIA Country Report September 2020 www.intellinews.com