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PUTIN'S NAME HEADS THE LIST OF RUSSIAN POLITICAL ELITE

MOSCOW, February 22 (RIA Novosti) - Three thirds of Russia's people, or 77%, have put the name of President Vladimir Putin at top of the rating list of the Russian political elite. The data was obtained by Yury Levada's independent Analytical Center (Levada Center). The sociologists received them during the Russian representative public pall of 1,600 inhabitants of the country in 128 towns and villages in 46 regions. The statistical mistake of the poll stands at about 3%.

The respondents were asked to name five or six persons who, in their opinion, should represent the political elite of the Russian Federation; 18% of the polled answered "undecided."

The second place was given to the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, Vladimir Zhirinovsky (37%), the third place (25%) - to the Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov.

They are followed by State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov (16%), Nash Vybor (Our Choice) party leader Irina Khakamada, head of the Duma faction and co-chairman of the Homeland Party Dmitry Rogozin and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, who received 12% each (the names are listed in accordance with the decreasing shares of a percent).

Even percent of the polled gave their votes to Minister of Emergency Situations Sergei Shoigu, and 10% to the leader of the Yabloko party.

The Moscow Mayer, Yury Luzhkov, is at the end (7%) of the ten strongest politicians.