Moscow (AFP)

Cluster in the Kremlin: Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed on Thursday that dozens of people around him were suffering from Covid-19, forcing him to self-isolate, an illustration of the country's difficulties in stemming the epidemic.

The people concerned are in particular bodyguards of the head of state, according to the Russian presidency.

"In my entourage (...) it is not one, not two, but several dozen people who have fallen ill with the coronavirus", announced Mr. Putin during a meeting by videoconference at the Treaty Organization Collective Security Council (OTSC), meeting as a summit in Tajikistan.

"I had to cancel my visit to Dushanbe at the last moment, I'm really sorry," he added.

According to Dmitry Peskov, his spokesperson, Mr. Putin, 68, vaccinated since March, must remain in isolation for another "at least a week" because of this unprecedented outbreak since the start of the epidemic in the circle closer to the master of the Kremlin.

Among those infected, some provided "security" for the president and others were in charge of aspects of his "daily life", added Peskov, without giving further details.

On the other hand, he assures that he is not aware of "any serious case", stressing that "practically all those" who work with Mr. Putin are vaccinated.

According to Dmitry Peskov, the functioning of the Kremlin is not affected and the president himself "works normally" from his residence in the suburbs of Moscow.

Vladimir Poutine had announced Tuesday that he had to isolate himself after a "very close" contact with a collaborator who turned out to be ill.

Immune for nearly six months by the Russian vaccine Sputnik V, he added that the serum "will really demonstrate its high level of protection."

- Less than 30% of vaccinated -

The irruption of the Covid in the close entourage of the president underlines the Russian difficulties to fight against the epidemic, between a vaccination which slips and the very random respect of the rules of distancing and the wearing of the mask.

Russia is one of the states in the world where the pandemic has claimed the most lives.

The phenomenon has accelerated, the Russians not being vaccinated by products produced in the country, against a background of mistrust of the authorities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) videoconference meeting at his residence in Novo-Ogariovo near Moscow on September 16, 2021 Alexey DRUZHININ Sputnik / AFP

The country has been particularly bereaved by the Delta variant which has been wreaking havoc since June.

According to the statistics agency Rosstat, some 350,000 Russians had died of Covid-19 by the end of July 2021. And according to a count from the Gogov site, only 27.5% of the Russian population is fully vaccinated to date and since December 2020.

Initially, the Kremlin, which has four national vaccines, set a target of reaching 60% vaccination by September.

Despite strong promotion, Sputnik V, Moscow's flagship vaccine, is also experiencing difficulties in export, despite studies establishing its effectiveness.

It has still not been approved by the World Health Organization or by the European Union.

Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassili Nebenzia on Wednesday denounced as "clearly discriminatory" the compulsory vaccination to be able to access the UN General Assembly from September 21 to 27, Sputnik V not appearing among the sera authorized.

- Elections this weekend -

The master of the Kremlin had only recently resumed events in public, protected until then by a drastic device to prevent him from contact with the coronavirus.

Before announcing his isolation, Mr. Putin received Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and many Paralympic athletes returning from Tokyo on Monday in Moscow.

Until a few weeks ago, the overwhelming majority of his engagements were made by video and the few people who could meet him had to undergo a period of isolation of fourteen days.

Election poster for the ruling United Russia party, in Moscow on September 8, 2021 NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA AFP

Since strict containment in April and May 2020, during the first wave of the epidemic, the Russian authorities have refused to introduce new large-scale restrictive measures in order to preserve a fragile economy.

The isolation of Vladimir Putin comes before the holding of legislative elections this weekend, from Friday to Sunday, a vote scheduled over three days to limit the risk of contamination in the polling stations.

According to his spokesperson, the president registered to vote online.

© 2021 AFP