Russians commend Putin’s performance, believe he can keep election promises – poll

MOSCOW. Feb 28 (Interfax) – Some 47% of Russians believe that President Vladimir Putin can keep the election promises, the Levada Center told Interfax after having polled respondents in 130 towns and cities in 45 regions this February.

A third (34%) doubted that and 17% were hesitant, the sociologists said.

In the opinion of 65%, President Putin has done more good than harm to Russia, and 18% have the opposite opinion.

The approval rating of Putin has not declined over the past year: 66% of Russians said in early 2012 that Putin was good for the country and the indicator was 65% in early 2013.

The respondents were asked a number of questions about Putin’s presidency. Some 36% said he had restored the great power status of Russia, 28% pointed to his social protection efforts (higher salaries and pensions) and 24% stated he “had overcome separatist trends and prevented Russia’s breakup.”

Twenty-two percent said Putin was fostering reforms, 19% lauded the recovery from the crisis of 2008, 17% noted North Caucasian stabilization efforts and 16% welcomed the rapprochement of CIS countries.

Fourteen percent uttered he had managed “to stop the economic crisis and production decline”, 11% affirmed “the strengthening of law and order”, and 10% “the continuation of reforms with a bigger focus on social protection”.

The respondents called the biggest failure of Putin “unfair distribution of wealth in the country” (41%) and “inability of average citizens to regain the money they have lost through the reforms” (36%).