MOSCOW — The coronavirus pandemic has given Russian President Vladimir Putin a new chance to remind worried Russians of a message he often shares: Western democracies are weak, globalism is unstable, and having a strong leader in charge is better during tough times.
During most of the pandemic, Putin has tried to show strength and stay calm. He has told his people that the spread of the virus is under control in Russia, even though it has caused the deaths of 14,000 people and likely many more.
