The popularity of Vladimir Putin has fallen for a seventh consecutive week to 65.6%, the lowest level since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to state-run pollsVTsIOM.
Putin, who was appointed to the presidency by Boris Yeltsin just eight years after the breakup of the Soviet Union, has held power since 1999 either as president or prime minister.
Former Lieutenant Colonel of the KGB, who watched the fall of the USSR from the headquarters of the Soviet secret services in East Germany, Putin will surpass Joseph Stalin and become the longest-serving leader of Russia since Catherine the Great if he completes his current six-year term in the Kremlin.
However, his popularity, though far too high by measures of what applies in democracies, has been flattened in recent weeks. Positive opinions of him fell from 73.3% in March, while confidence in him fell to 71% from 77%,according to VTsIOM.
It is not clear why Poot In’s performance is declining. Last week he ordered his executives to find ways to boost the economy after a contraction in the first two months of the year. The blocking of mobile internet, messaging apps and VPNs have displeased many Russians in recent months.
What do Russians really think
In the midst of war, state repression and censorship, the question of what Russians really think is a matter for debate.
Putin’s supporters cite polls that show widespread approval of his rule, but opponents question how honest people are when talking to pollsters in such a controlled environment.
His popularity jumped after the invasion of Ukraine, rising to just under 80% from 64.3%. Until two months ago it had remained well above 75%, with a few dips after the retrenchment measures announced in 2022, according to VTsIOM.
Trust in Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin fell to 53.8%, former President Dmitry Medvedev came in at 36.8%, Communist Party general secretary Gennady Zyuganov at 32.7% and Fair Russia party leader Sergei Mironov at 29.8%.
Ahead of parliamentary elections in late September, there have been recent unusual warnings from some bloggers and politicians that there must be change in Russia to avoid the risk of social unrest.
