There apparently is just one root server for all of Russia, and that singlehandedly is responsible for these numbers. (Edit: 4 actually.)
And Canada only has root servers on the eastern side of the county, and none whatsoever in the west.
But does it really matter? Aren't they just used when there is nothing cached?
The author makes it seem like "the powers that be" have some kind of conspiracy, but it's really up to the local ISP's to devote the resources to run a server, there is no one in charge - you just have to do it and then ask to be added to the list.