How Putin tries to deflect responsibility for economic downturn
The Russian media are actively circulating reports that Vladimir Putin has ordered the development of measures to support the coal industry as soon as possible.
This instruction was issued following a government meeting, which was widely covered by propaganda in an attempt to downplay the crisis in the industry.
The goal of these actions is to create the illusion among the Russian population that the situation with the coal industry is fully under state control and that all problems are temporary. At the same time, Putin is trying to shift the responsibility for the ongoing decline of the coal industry onto government officials, who will later be easily blamed for sabotaging the president’s “timely” and “correct” orders.
The Russian coal industry is currently facing a serious crisis. Production is declining, mines are being closed, and workers have not been paid for months, losing their jobs in the process. The primary cause of these issues is Western sanctions in response to Russia’s war against Ukraine, which have closed EU markets to Russian coal. Meanwhile, China and India are reducing coal imports from Russia and imposing duties on the imported fuel.
Amid falling coal prices and tougher sanctions, the crisis in Russia’s coal mining and other industries will only worsen. Consequently, Russian propaganda is forced to whitewash Putin’s image, shifting all responsibility onto the government and local officials.
