Interfax: Russians note influence of Putin on processes happening in Russia – poll

(Interfax – December 3, 2013) Positive assessments of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s activities outweigh negative ones and Russian citizens note his considerable influence on the processes unfolding in the country and are ready to vote for him, sociologists said.

Fifty-two percent of Russians have a favorable impression of Putin’s activities, 29 percent are displeased with his actions and 13 percent said they did not know enough about the president’s work, the poll held by sociologists of Levada Center in November showed.

When asked about whether or not they supported Putin as president, 47 percent said they did, 31 percent said they did not and another 16 percent failed to answer due to lack of knowledge, sociologists told Interfax.

The majority (82 percent) have no doubt that Putin influences the processes happening in the country and 15 percent of them think that his influence is “very strong,” the survey showed.

When asked if hypothetical presidential elections were to be held in Russia this Sunday, 47 percent respondents said they would vote for Putin; 17 percent – for Russian Communist Party Leader Gennady Zyuganov; 12 percent – Russian Liberal Democratic Party Vladimir Zhirinovsky; 7 percent – for Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu; 5 percent each – for Civil Platform leader Mikhail Prokhorov and Alexei Navalny, who headed the People’s Alliance party that was recently formed and has not yet been registered and 2 percent – for Yabloko leader Sergei Mitrokhin, sociologists said.

The survey was held in 130 cities, towns and villages in 45 Russian regions.