Our evidence assumes recent sanctions.
Heloise Urvoy 24, senior journalist, 3/14/2024, "Russia's economy is going strong: why haven't Western sanctions worked?" EuroNews, https://www.euronews.com/business/2024/03/14/russias-economy-is-going-strong-why-havent-western-sanctions-worked, christian
Renewed packages of sanctions from the EU and US were supposed to weaken the Russian economy. Instead, it has adapted, and remains robust just as Vladimir Putin is about to get reelected for a fourth presidential term.
The resilience of the Russian economy is without a doubt a key selling point for President Putin, who's been continuously leading Russia since 1999, either as President or Prime Minister.
But it was not supposed to be the case. After the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many large companies left Russia, and both the EU and US coordinated and renewed several rounds of sanction packages, aimed at impacting the Russian economy and indirectly help Ukrainians in their war effort.