Page 25 - RusRPTMar21

by jailing anti-corruption activist and opposition politician Alexei Navalny in January.
There has been a slight improvement in where Russians seeing the country headed with those that believe it is going in the “right direction” up 1pp to 49% in February as 1pp of the undecided have changed their mind and see things getting better. Those that think it is going in the “wrong direction” remained the same at 43%.
However, the biggest change in recent months as the propensity to protest with both political and economic demands almost doubled: the two indicators were up 12pp and 8pp from 23% and 25% in November to 45% and 43% respectively in January, according to Levada.
This tally’s with the fall in Putin’s trust rating over recent years, but is also clearly not driven by the mass protests called for by jailed anti-corruption activist and opposition politician Alexei Navalny in January, as Putin’s trust rating actually improved by 3pp between December and February, while that of Navalny fell 1pp to 4% over the same period.
Overall the Russian population still approve of Putin as his approval ratings show, but they are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with their deteriorating situation as his falling trust ratings show.
Navalny has been important in that he has sparked a national discussion about what is wrong with Russia, but as another Levada survey in February showed the majority of the Russian population are indifferent to Navalny’s fate, and those that have an opinion are equally divided between approving of Navalny and disapproving of him. Navalny plays the role less of an opposition leader or potential new president as that of a catalyst that will provoke more political awareness in the Russian people and more importantly within the existing systemic political parties, which has the potential to change Russian domestic politics from within the system.
Little change in the approval of the rest of the government
The popularity of Mishustin fell by 1pp from 56% in January to 55% but his disapproval rating remained the same as more Russians moved into the undecided category.
Likewise, the approval of the government fell by 2pp to 47% and those that disapprove rose by 1pp to 50% as 1pp to Russians moved into the undecided camp.
On the whole the Russians trust in both Mishustin and the government has fared fairly well during the coronacrisis as the government’s handling of the crisis as seen to be competent. Nevertheless the Navalny inspired protests
25 RUSSIA Country Report March 2021 www.intellinews.com