Poll: Putin's popularity rating goes up in Russia while Moscow is skeptical
BusinessNewEurope - bne.eu - 7.26.12 - JRL 2012-135

Russian President Vladimir Putin's job approval rating grew to 67% in July from 64% in June, according to the results of the Yury Levada Analytical Center's survey.

file photo
The public opinion survey was conducted in 45 Russian regions from July 20 to July 23.

41% of respondents said they trust the president, as compared with 37% the previous month, center sociologists told Interfax.

The poll results put the job approval rating of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at 59%. He enjoys the trust of 23% of respondents.

Apart from Putin and Medvedev, July's top 10 most popular political figures of Russia includes Moscow Region Governor Sergei Shoigu (11%), Communist Party chairman Gennady Zyuganov (11%), Liberal Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky (10%), businessman Mikhail Prokhorov (5%), Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (4%), A Just Russia leader Sergei Mironov (4%), Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia (3%), and Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko (3%).

18% of those polled said they did not trust any Russian politician.

49% of respondents approved of the government's performance in July, and 51% took the opposite view, the poll said.

The poll conducted one week earlier by the same analytical center showed that the situation in Moscow is opposite to the rest of the country presidents popularity in the capital has been going down since the beginning of summer. Currently, 31% of Moscow residents disapprove Putins job.

Presidents rating is traditionally lower in Moscow than in the rest of the country. People in Moscow are also more politically active, they want to participate in political life. Oppositions activity and protests have bigger influence on Muscovites, say Levada Centres analysts. They also warn that dissatisfaction would swell if authorities use force against protesters.

Keywords: Russia, Government, Politics - Russian News - Russia - Johnson's Russia List

Russian President Vladimir Putin's job approval rating grew to 67% in July from 64% in June, according to the results of the Yury Levada Analytical Center's survey.

file photo
The public opinion survey was conducted in 45 Russian regions from July 20 to July 23.

41% of respondents said they trust the president, as compared with 37% the previous month, center sociologists told Interfax.

The poll results put the job approval rating of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at 59%. He enjoys the trust of 23% of respondents.

Apart from Putin and Medvedev, July's top 10 most popular political figures of Russia includes Moscow Region Governor Sergei Shoigu (11%), Communist Party chairman Gennady Zyuganov (11%), Liberal Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky (10%), businessman Mikhail Prokhorov (5%), Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (4%), A Just Russia leader Sergei Mironov (4%), Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia (3%), and Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko (3%).

18% of those polled said they did not trust any Russian politician.

49% of respondents approved of the government's performance in July, and 51% took the opposite view, the poll said.

The poll conducted one week earlier by the same analytical center showed that the situation in Moscow is opposite to the rest of the country presidents popularity in the capital has been going down since the beginning of summer. Currently, 31% of Moscow residents disapprove Putins job.

Presidents rating is traditionally lower in Moscow than in the rest of the country. People in Moscow are also more politically active, they want to participate in political life. Oppositions activity and protests have bigger influence on Muscovites, say Levada Centres analysts. They also warn that dissatisfaction would swell if authorities use force against protesters.