If there was no internet additionally to the pandemic? I think, then, people would start doing strange things. Much violence. Because, nowadays, internet is an opium for the people :) Internet soothes and entertains. People spend all their extra money in mobiles. If you steal from them one social media, you should give them another one. But internet must go on.

I think some sort of blind energy would push people to collect into mobs against anything - against the government, against national minorities, against the rich, etc - no matter. At some moment, the rulers of Russia would consider it is smarter to be a leader of people's mood (to avoid being a victim) and, then, they would start a war against some neighbour (just to flush down the anger) or would active search for an inner enemy (including pogroms and stuff), high-profile public scandals, the resumption of the death penalty. To flush people's anger down the toilet.

In my opinion. Maybe I am wrong ... But who can know the exact answer for such a question? :)