Putin’s Credibility Rating Close To 85-pct Record High

[Purveyor]

MOSCOW, April 30 (Itar-Tass) -- Toward the end of the second presidency Vladimir Putin’s popularity rating has risen to a record-high of 84.7 percent, as follows from the results of a Bashkirova and Partners opinion poll, held on the eve of Dmitry Medvedev’s presidential inauguration due on May 7.

“This can be regarded as a token of the Russian citizens’ gratitude to the country’s second president,” sociologists say.

The question about confidence in Vladimir Putin was asked for the last time and that about confidence in president-elect, Dmitry Medvedev, for the first time. The Bashkirova and Partners pollster monitored the head of state’s popularity ratings throughout Vladimir Putin’s two presidencies.

The sociologists also arrived at the conclusion that “on the eve of taking office Dmitry Medvedev has a very high credibility rating.” He is trusted by 71 percent of Russians.

“The level of trust is so high largely because a considerable share of the country’s population sees Medvedev as Putin’s successor, who will go ahead with the same policy,” the pollster said.

---EOE---

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=12637964&PageNum=0

[David__77]

1. He looks stunningly good compared with Yeltsin and Gorbachev.

Russia had been systematically dismantled from 1985-2000. A parasitic oligarchy had emerged and sold the country out. Putin put a stop to the worst of it and presided over the country's economy growing again - though people are still worse in terms of living standards than in 1985.

[moondust]

2. There may still be some Russians

who fear the potential consequences of dissent.

[Purveyor]

3. Or perhaps 'some Russian's" actually like the fact that their country is strong again and their

daily living situation is improving.

Fancy that would you? Doubt many American's can proclaim the same, eh?