Protest movement comes to naught – VTsIOM head

MOSCOW. Dec 9 (Interfax) – Russian Public Opinion Study Center (VTsIOM) General Director Valery Fyodorov claims that protest movement has broken down in Russia and the political situation has stabilized.

“The election campaign ended several months ago. Protest movement experienced a crisis and actual breakdown against the backdrop of de-politicization of the society. Everyone can see its signs: preparedness to take part in rallies and assemblies is extremely low and the wish to vote has decreased after a long federal election season,” Fyodorov told President Vladimir Putin’s election agents on Sunday.

“Ratings have normalized,” he said.

“The harsh criticism and campaign aimed to discredit the authorities and United Russia, which were rather successful in late 2011 – early 2012, lost their significance now,” he said. “The ratings are back to the level, which existed before the December decline.”

Certain normalization and stabilization of the political situation have been achieved, but there are still problems that disturb the public, he said. Fyodorov believes the problems are not political: they are primarily related with the functioning of key institutions, such as housing and public utilities.

“That’s number one problem of Russians,” he said.

Reforms of healthcare, education and social security are also on the agenda, Fyodorov said.

“People are concerned about the local government: not the president or the prime minister but officials in their home towns,” he said.

According to Fyodorov, confidence of Russians in various power institutes and their workers is rather low.