The Kremlin called Tuesday on Russians to be "more responsible" and get vaccinated for Covid-19 as the country registered a record number of daily deaths from the virus.
The new high of 1,015 Covid-19 deaths was recorded over 24 hours, officials said Tuesday, bringing the country's official total to 225,325 — the highest in Europe.
Officials have been accused of downplaying the severity of the pandemic, and figures published by statistics agency Rosstat earlier in October showed more than 400,000 people had died in Russia as a result of coronavirus.
Only 35% of Russians are fully vaccinated, despite pleas from President Vladimir Putin.
"There is a tradition to blame everything on the state," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
He added that the government could have done more to explain the "lack of alternative to vaccines" to Russians.
"But at the same time, we need a more responsible position from citizens of our country," he said.
He added that authorities had "coped brilliantly" in providing "conditions for mass vaccinations."
While several Russian-developed jabs have been available for months, authorities have struggled to inoculate a vaccine-skeptic population.
Peskov denied that bringing Western vaccines into Russia would help the country's sluggish vaccination rates.
"The vaccinophobia of some citizens is not linked to the brand of vaccines," he said.
Independent polls show that more than half of Russians do not plan to get a shot.
The surging infections have come without any real pandemic restrictions to limit the spread, though several regions have re-introduced QR codes for access to public places.
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.
Remind me later.
