The approval ratings of the President and the Prime Minister rise and fall concurrently with each other.
The approval ratings of Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin dropped to a record low over the past year, according to an opinion poll conducted by Levada Centre from April 24th to April 27th. Still, they enjoy the support of the majority of Russians: 68% of respondents approve the President and 76% of the Prime Minister.
The approval ratings of both Putin and Medvedev have dropped by 7% since the beginning of the year, according to Levada Centre. However, experts believe that a drop in a leader's approval ratings is normal in times of economic crisis.
That, however, did not influence the opinion of respondents in a poll conducted by the All-Russia Centre for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM). The poll, conducted from April 25th to April 26th, showed that the approval ratings of the Head of State and the Head of Government had actually increased in comparison with March. Medvedev's approval rating was 73% (compared to 69% in March) and Putin's was 76% (compared to 74% in March). Incidentally, Levada Centre polled 1,600 Russians in 128 communities from 46 regions and VTsIOM polled the same number of people, but in 153 communities.
Medvedev's and Putin's approval ratings hit a record high immediately after the Georgia-South Ossetia conflict last September (83% for Medvedev and 88% for Putin, according to Levada Centre). Even after Mr Medvedev's inauguration in May of last year, neither leader had managed to reach such a high approval level. Their ratings have been gradually decreasing since October of last year.
Meanwhile, only 43% of respondents think that the country is moving in the right direction. However, that is more than in March (41%).
Vera Krylova