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VIRUS-RUSSIA-POLITICS
Putin makes Kremlin appearance as virus restrictions ease
MOSCOW, May 26, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – President Vladimir Putin made a rare recent
appearance in the Kremlin on Monday as Russia prepares to ease lockdown
restrictions imposed over the coronavirus pandemic.
The 67-year-old has worked remotely over the past few weeks from his Novo-
Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, chairing meetings with officials by video
conference.
But on Monday, Putin held talks with the general director of Russian
Railways, Oleg Belozerov, at the Kremlin, his office said.
A spokesman said he did not know if Putin would be returning to work full
time in the Kremlin.
According to his official schedule, Putin was last in the Kremlin on May 9
for celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Precautions have been taken to protect Putin since the start of the
coronavirus crisis, with authorities checking the body temperature of
officials and reporters attending events involving the president since early
February.
Putin began working remotely from Novo-Ogaryovo in early April, after the
head of Russia’s main coronavirus hospital tested positive for the infection
just a few days after meeting with the Russian leader.
Several senior officials have been infected with the virus, including Prime
Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who said after
he tested positive that he had not seen the president face to face for “over a
month”.
On Monday, Peskov, 52, said he was released from hospital where he had
reportedly been treated for double pneumonia.
“I will be under quarantine for now,” Peskov told state news agency TASS.
“I will gradually begin working from home.”
Russia has recorded more than 353,000 coronavirus infections, the third-
highest number in the world, and 3,633 deaths.
But the number of new cases has been steadily dropping and authorities have
begun easing lockdown measures in some parts of the country.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko said Monday that authorities
planned to ease restrictions on domestic tourism from June 1, though officials
said it was still too early to plan for vacations abroad.
The current stay-at-home rules in Moscow, the epicentre of the contagion in
Russia, are in place until the end of the month.
BSS/AFP/MMA/1040HRS