title: Federalism and the Russian response to the first waves of COVID-19
abstract: COVID-19 was first transmitted to Russia by tourists returning from abroad. The lack of the quarantine measures in the first weeks of the outbreak allowed the virus to spread, especially in large cities. Russia faced the consequences of COVID-19 in the second half of March 2020. Travel agencies, the hospitality industry, and retail trade in Russia were affected by the pandemic from February 2020 on. The World Bank has predicted a 6 percent drop in gross domestic product in Russia as a result of 