(08/05/09) -

Russians Fully Back Medvedev and Putin

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The Russian Federation’s governing duo continues to enjoy a high level of public support, according to a poll by the Yuri Levada Analytical Center. 72 per cent of respondents approve of Russian president Dmitry Medvedev’s performance, while 78 per cent are satisfied with the job of Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The Russian Federation’s governing duo continues to enjoy a high level of public support, according to a poll by the Yuri Levada Analytical Center. 72 per cent of respondents approve of Russian president Dmitry Medvedev’s performance, while 78 per cent are satisfied with the job of Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin.

Support for both politicians is up one point since June.

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 Jul. 26, Medvedev discussed Russia’s image abroad, saying, "Our image needs to be comfortable for those who deal with us. We should not be prickly and hard to approach, but at the same time we should be able to give a firm response when circumstances call for it."

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?

Source: Yury Levada Analytical Center
Methodology: Interviews with 1,600 Russian adults, conducted from Jul. 17 to Jul. 20, 2009. No margin of error was provided.