There is a long history of Russian tsars absenting themselves during hard times and letting their subordinates take the blame. Vladimir Putin apparently is no different. He’s absenting himself from the spotlight and letting lower officials take the heat for unpopular measures; when the virus is gone, however, he will undoubtedly take the credit for it.
Kind of sounds like Trump, doesn’t it? Except that Trump’s lust for publicity is too great for that. He can’t stand having anyone else be the center of attention. His press briefings tie him to the crisis in ways that he will regret in November. For better or worse, this is his pandemic and depression, because he demands that everything be about him.
He would have been wiser to pay more attention to his hero. Once again, it is his weaknesses, not any underappreciated strengths, that may be the country’s salvation in the long run.