(CPOD) Nov. 5, 2004 - Vladimir Putin maintains a relatively high level of support in Russia, according to a poll by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center. 69 per cent of respondents approve of the president's performance, a five per cent drop since August.

Putin won a second four-year term as president in the Mar. 14 election, garnering 71.31 per cent of all cast ballots. The pro-Kremlin United Russia (YR) currently controls 222 seats in the State Duma, a fact that has led to questions over a possible change in presidential term limits.

Yesterday, United Russia lawmaker Anatoly Yermolin sent an open letter to parliamentary speaker Boris Gryzlov, urging the legislative branch to delay Putin's proposed electoral reform bill.

On Sept. 13, Putin called for the elimination of direct elections for Russia's 89 governors, who would be nominated by the head of state and approved by regional legislatures. The president said that security concerns prompted the proposal, saying, "The fight against terrorism requires the co-operation of all government departments."

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and former Russian president Boris Yeltsin have publicly criticized Putin's plan.

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