Washington Post: Russians do not associate Putin with economic crisis

Russians like Putin, but they worry about the state of the Russian economy.
Photo: putin.kremlin.ru

The high level of public support for Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to the fact that after 17 years of presidency, Russians do not perceive him as a figure that can be changed or criticized, and low-ranking officials are blamed for all the problems of the state.

This conclusion was made by the correspondent. The Washington Post Michael Birnbaum, who accompanied the sociologist VTsIOM during a survey of Russians on the president.

“Judging by polls, the vast majority of Russians support Putin, but people have a much more negative attitude towards politicians and officials who are lower in rank. Five hours of knocking on doors in a working-class apartment building outside Moscow confirmed these results,” the author writes.

He noted that for Russians, Putin became associated with the country, and not with an ordinary politician who can be removed from power, so the level of his support is so high.

“When they say they support Putin, what they mean is not what Americans might mean when they say they support Obama. In Putin's seventeenth year in office, many Russians perceive him as a man who has risen above political life, rather than as a figure who can be elected or defeated. And ask: “Do you approve of Putin?” - is like asking: “Do you approve of Russia?” Who will say no?,” Birnbaum said.

He clarified that the survey participants expressed support for Putin, but at the same time expressed concern about the economic situation in the country, as well as about the fact that soon they would not be able to make ends meet.

“It feels like the 90s are back. I like Putin. May God give him long life and health. But I’m worried about what will happen after,” the journalist quoted the words of one of the respondents, who was very worried about Putin’s lack of successors.

Birnbaum noted that many Muscovites refused to participate in the survey, which also leads to an overestimation of the real indicators of support for the head of Russia.

“Some critics of Putin suggest that in opinion polls the level of support for Putin is overestimated, since those who dislike him simply refuse to participate in polls,” the author concluded.

As wrote ForumDaily, Putin's rating in Russia, according to various polls, it balances at the level of 80-90%.

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