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survey, despite country wide anti-government protests in January, the pollster said in a press release on February 25.
Trust in Putin has taken a hit in the last two years by the multiple shocks that have hit the economy and the six-year long stagnation of incomes. Russians that came out to join the nationwide anti-government protests in January called for by Navalny following his arrest and jailing in January protested not only against the injustice of Navalny jailing, but more because they were dissatisfied with the government’s performance and the falling standards of living, according to a previous Levada poll. The majority of Russians are indifferent to Navalny fate, while those with an opinion are even divided between supporting him and disapproving of him, the survey found.
Navalny scored a lot less well and several establishment figures. One of the quirks of Russia’s young democracy is that the Russian people are uncomfortable with private citizens simply standing up and saying “I want to be president.” As a legacy of 70 years of centralised communist rule there is a feeling that candidates have to be in some way “qualified” by coming from some sort of state organ. Consequently working in government adds legitimacy that Navalny doesn't have. The upshot is politicians from the so-called systemic opposition – the parties in the Duma other than the ruling United Russia – do better than the oppositions outside the Duma.
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin is the second most trusted politician in Russia and as bne IntelliNews reported he has gained in the polls thanks to the government’s fast reaction to the crises of 2020.
Ultra-nationalist leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) and long standing Duma deputy Vladimir Zhirinovsky fell to fourth place with 8% after his trust rating dropped by one point.
19 RUSSIA Country Report March 2021 www.intellinews.com