Russian Development Assistance during the Coronavirus Pandemic in 2020

Yury K. Zaitsev – Senior Researcher of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Candidate of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor (Moscow, Russia). Е-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Alexander Yu. Knobel – Head of Foreign Trade Department of the Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy; Director of Center for Foreign Trade Department of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration; Director of Institute for International Economics and Finance, Russian Foreign Trade Academy, Candidate of Economic Sciences (Moscow, Russia). Е-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Russia’s status as an international donor was confirmed by the Government of the Russian Federation in the crisis year 2020. A large share of Russian aid (more than 44%) in 2020 was associated with writing-off of debts. Russia has also contributed to the provision of international humanitarian assistance, helping to combat the spread of coronavirus infection.

The article was prepared in the framework of execution of state order by RANEPA in 2021.

Key words: development assistance, official development assistance (ODA), international development assistance, pandemic, coronavirus.

JEL-codes: F63, O19, Q01.