Public opinion research center Levada conducted a poll among Russian citizens asking them whether they trust President Putin. The results of the survey were more than curious.
It turned out that the level of confidence in the national leader has declined. The poll showed only 58 percent of those who still trust Putin. Interestingly, the same percentage of respondents spoke in favour of President Putin back in 2013, prior to Russia's move to reunite with the Crimea and the ensuing euphoria that swept across Russia afterwards as people were more than just impressed with Putin's power and determination.
In 2017, as many as 75 percent of Russians were supportive of Putin's policies.
The percentage of those who believe that Vladimir Putin "does not deserve" their support has seriously increased from four percent in 2017 to 13 percent in 2018.
Putin's ratings skyrocketed again in late 2017, on the eve of the presidential election, when the naive Russians were promised higher salaries and bigger support to regions. However, Putin "pleased" Russian citizens with the highly unpopular pension reform. It is the reform, which basically raises the retirement age in Russia for both men and women, that cut the level of people's confidence in Putin, Levada Center.
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