Support for Medvedev is down two points since June; Putin’s popularity is down one point.

Russian voters renewed the State Duma in December 2007. United Russia (YR)—whose candidate list was headed by then president Putin—secured 64.1 per cent of the vote and 315 of the legislature’s 450 seats. On that same month, Putin endorsed Medvedev as a presidential candidate, and Medvedev said it would be of the "utmost importance" to have Putin as prime minister.

In March 2008, Medvedev easily won Russia’s presidential election with 70.28 per cent of the vote. In May, Medvedev was sworn in as president. His nomination of Putin as prime minister was confirmed by the State Duma in a 392-56 vote.

The next presidential election is scheduled for March 2012. Both Putin and Medvedev are eligible to run as candidates.

On Jul. 29, Medvedev was reported as saying that he was "bored to death" by ministers in his cabinet who fill performance reports with positive news, leaving the bad news hidden or unmentioned.

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of Russian president Dmitry Medvedev’s performance?

Do you approve or disapprove of Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin’s performance?

The Communist Party (KPRF) is a very distant second with eight per cent, followed by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) with five per cent, and the opposition movement A Just Russia with four per cent.

Russian voters renewed the State Duma in December 2007. United Russia—whose candidate list was headed by then president Vladimir Putin—secured 64.1 per cent of the vote and 315 of the legislature’s 450 seats. On that same month, Putin endorsed Dmitry Medvedev as a presidential candidate, and Medvedev said it would be of the "utmost importance" to have Putin as prime minister.

In March 2008, Medvedev easily won Russia’s presidential election with 70.28 per cent of the vote. In May, Medvedev was sworn in as president. His nomination of Putin as prime minister was confirmed by the State Duma in a 392-56 vote.

On Jul. 19, Russian lawmakers approved a controversial bill granting new powers to the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB)—the country’s domestic spy agency. These include the power to warn people that they are "on the boundary" of committing a crime, and imposing fines or short jail sentences on people who obstruct the work of FSB agents.

Human rights organizations and opposition parties have warned that the new law is reminiscent of former KGB "prevention" techniques. Vladimir Vasiliyev, chairman of the Security Committee and a lawmaker with United Russia, responded to critics saying, "The legislation measures up to the highest and most humanistic standards of a state governed by the rule of law."

Polling Data

Which party would you vote for in the election to the State Duma?

Before the start of 2005, seven countries in the world—Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, Russia and the United States—had acknowledged possessing nuclear arsenals. Under the "strategic ambiguity" policy, Israel has refused to publicly discuss its purported nuclear capabilities. In February 2005, the government of North Korea admitted publicly for the first time that it possesses nuclear weapons.

On Apr. 8, U.S. president Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev signed the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START),committing to reduce their nuclear arsenals by a third and halve the number of missiles and bombers.

On Jul. 12, Medvedev urged Iran to "explain" its nuclear program—which the Iranian government insists is for civilian purposes only—adding that he worries that the country "is getting closer" to developing nuclear weapons.

Polling Data

What do you think, should Russia pursue nuclear disarmament, or maintain its existing nuclear capabilities?

Medvedev is second with 17 per cent, followed by Communist Party (KPRF) leader Gennady Zyuganov with six per cent, Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky with four per cent, and Russian Federation Council speaker Sergei Mironov of A Just Russia with two per cent.

Russian voters renewed the State Duma in December 2007. United Russia (YR)—whose candidate list was headed by then president Putin—secured 64.1 per cent of the vote and 315 of the legislature’s 450 seats. On that same month, Putin endorsed Medvedev as a presidential candidate, and Medvedev said it would be of the "utmost importance" to have Putin as prime minister.

In March 2008, Medvedev easily won Russia’s presidential election with 70.28 per cent of the vote. In May, Medvedev was sworn in as president. His nomination of Putin as prime minister was confirmed by the State Duma in a 392-56 vote.

The next presidential election is scheduled for March 2012. Both Putin and Medvedev are eligible to run as candidates.

On Jun. 24, Medvedev hinted at a possible candidacy for 2012, declaring, "If by that time my plans start being implemented, if I have the support of our people. (…) If I have the desire to continue, then I do not rule this out."

Polling Data

If the presidential election took place this Sunday, who would you vote for? (Open-ended)

Josef Stalin was the second leader of the Soviet Union, taking over after the death of Vladimir Lenin in 1924. Stalin was responsible for a series of repressive campaigns—known as the Great Purge—during the 1930s. During his tenure, Stalin eliminated all possible political opposition through executions and internal exile.

In 1932 and 1933, millions of Ukrainians starved to death as a direct consequence of Stalin’s policies in Soviet Ukraine. The events are also known as the Holodomor famine.

Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin recently apologized—although not officially—for the Katyn massacre in Poland, in which 20,000 Polish nationals were killed with the complacency of Joseph Stalin in 1940. While visiting Katyn in April, Putin spoke of "shared memory and shame" of the Stalin victims, but also wished for an end to "always dividing countries into those who are right and those who are guilty."

Polling Data

Do you think the Russian government should apologize to the Ukrainian people for the famine of the 1930s, just as it has recently apologized to the Polish people for the tragedy of Katyn?

The Communist Party (KPRF) is a distant second with eight per cent, followed by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) with five per cent, and the opposition movement A Just Russia with four per cent.

Russian voters renewed the State Duma in December 2007. United Russia—whose candidate list was headed by then president Vladimir Putin—secured 64.1 per cent of the vote and 315 of the legislature’s 450 seats. On that same month, Putin endorsed Dmitry Medvedev as a presidential candidate, and Medvedev said it would be of the "utmost importance" to have Putin as prime minister.

In March 2008, Medvedev easily won Russia’s presidential election with 70.28 per cent of the vote. In May, Medvedev was sworn in as president. His nomination of Putin as prime minister was confirmed by the State Duma in a 392-56 vote.

Earlier this month, Putin rejected accusations that Medvedev is a puppet president who is easily manipulated by him, saying, "Our actions are guided exclusively in the interests of our country and the Russian people. We divide up our competencies in accordance with the constitution and Russian legislation."

Polling Data

Which party would you vote for in the election to the State Duma?

Communist Party (KPRF) leader Gennady Zyuganov is far behind with five per cent, followed by Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky with four per cent, and Russian Federation Council speaker Sergei Mironov of A Just Russia with one per cent. 43 per cent of respondents are undecided.

Russian voters renewed the State Duma in December 2007. United Russia (YR)—whose candidate list was headed by then president Putin—secured 64.1 per cent of the vote and 315 of the legislature’s 450 seats. On that same month, Putin endorsed Medvedev as a presidential candidate, and Medvedev said it would be of the "utmost importance" to have Putin as prime minister.

In March 2008, Medvedev easily won Russia’s presidential election with 70.28 per cent of the vote. In May, Medvedev was sworn in as president. His nomination of Putin as prime minister was confirmed by the State Duma in a 392-56 vote.

The next presidential election is scheduled for March 2012. Both Putin and Medvedev are eligible to run as candidates.

In March, YR chairman Andrei Vorobyov refused to assure that Putin would be the party’s presidential candidate in 2012, saying, "Putin is our leader, and this fact speaks for itself. As far as his nomination is concerned, this process is always complicated and requires more discussions and preparations."

Polling Data

If the presidential election took place this Sunday, who would you vote for? (Open-ended)

In addition, 73 per cent of respondents approve of Russian president Dmitry Medvedev’s performance.

Russian voters renewed the State Duma in December 2007. United Russia (YR)—whose candidate list was headed by then president Putin—secured 64.1 per cent of the vote and 315 of the legislature’s 450 seats. On that same month, Putin endorsed Medvedev as a presidential candidate, and Medvedev said it would be of the "utmost importance" to have Putin as prime minister.

In March 2008, Medvedev easily won Russia’s presidential election with 70.28 per cent of the vote. In May, Medvedev was sworn in as president. His nomination of Putin as prime minister was confirmed by the State Duma in a 392-56 vote

On Apr. 20, Putin discussed the country’s financial standing, saying, "Provisional results for the first quarter fuel optimism. This allows us to say that the recession is over. This does not mean that the crisis is over. (…) More than 30 per cent of the country’s medical institutions are in a critical state or require a financial overhaul."

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of Russian president Dmitry Medvedev’s performance?

Do you approve or disapprove of Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin’s performance?

The Communist Party (KPRF) is a distant second with eight per cent, followed by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) with five per cent, and the opposition movement A Just Russia with four per cent.

Russian voters renewed the State Duma in December 2007. United Russia—whose candidate list was headed by then president Vladimir Putin—secured 64.1 per cent of the vote and 315 of the legislature’s 450 seats. On that same month, Putin endorsed Dmitry Medvedev as a presidential candidate, and Medvedev said it would be of the "utmost importance" to have Putin as prime minister.

In March 2008, Medvedev easily won Russia’s presidential election with 70.28 per cent of the vote. In May, Medvedev was sworn in as president. His nomination of Putin as prime minister was confirmed by the State Duma in a 392-56 vote.

On Mar. 29, at least 40 people died and 100 more were injured after two suicide bombers targeted the Lubyanka and Park Kultury metro stations in Moscow. Two days later, Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov claimed responsibility for the attacks.

On Apr. 1, Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov criticized the government, saying they are "incapable of coping with any task," and adding, "We shall never end corruption and terrorist acts if we do not have professionals on all levels."

Polling Data

Which party would you vote for in the election to the State Duma?

On the other hand, 31 per cent of respondents sympathize with Medvedev as a person but doubt his ability to lead the country out of crisis, 10 per cent do not trust him at all, and eight per cent trust him as a leader but have no sympathy for him.

Russian voters renewed the State Duma in December 2007. United Russia (YR)—whose candidate list was headed by then president Vladimir Putin—secured 64.1 per cent of the vote and 315 of the legislature’s 450 seats. On that same month, Putin endorsed Medvedev as a presidential candidate, and Medvedev said it would be of the "utmost importance" to have Putin as prime minister.

In March 2008, Medvedev easily won Russia’s presidential election with 70.28 per cent of the vote. In May, Medvedev was sworn in as president. His nomination of Putin as prime minister was confirmed by the State Duma in a 392-56 vote.

On Apr. 7, Medvedev called for the European Union (EU) to lift visa requirements for Russians, saying that this would make sense "if we are serious partners," in order to benefit from increased business trading.

Polling Data

How would you characterize your general attitude towards Dmitry Medvedev?

Source: Russian Public Opinion Research Center
Methodology: Interviews with 1,600 Russian adults, conducted on Mar. 20 and Mar. 21, 2010. Margin of error is 3.4 per cent.