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Vladimir Putin's popularity at a six-year high according to latest national poll Ukraine crisis pushes Putin's popularity among Russians to six-year high
(35 minutes later)
As the troubles in the Ukraine continue to boil over, the crisis has had a significant impact on the popularity of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Vladimir Putin is known for his outlandish PR efforts but apparently all the Russian President needed to do to improve his popularity was annex Crimea.
According to a poll conducted by All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion, Putin was the most popular he has been for over six years and support for his United Russian Party had grown by 20 per cent – also a six-year high. According to Iran’s Press TV, his widely-condemned stance through the increasingly bloody Ukraine crisis has endeared him to the Russian public, pushing ratings to a six-year high.
Much of the reason behind Putin’s surge in popularity seems to be the direct result of the crisis currently going on in neighbouring Ukraine between ethnic Russians and the Ukraine government. The conflict seems to have succeeded where topless horse riding and "finding" ancient Greek jugs have failed in securing positive public opinion.
In the findings, 52 per cent of respondents said the events taking place in the Ukraine had had a direct impact on their views. The results of the poll, conducted by the All-Russian Centre for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM) earlier this month, showed that Mr Putin’s approval rating had increased from 82 per cent to 85 per cent since April, and by more than a third since the beginning of the year.
Since April, the time when Russian ethnics in the west of Ukraine stepped up their action for secession, it was found that Putin’s rating rose from just over 82 per cent to 86 per cent. “Thus, this figure is virtually identical to the one recorded six years ago,” the poll said.
The statement from the ARCSPO that came with the poll that said: "The approval of the actions of the President of the Russian Federation has been growing for five consecutive months already.” His United Russia party also did well, winning 60 per cent approval, up from just 41 per cent in January.
Adding that since the beginning of the year, his popularity had grown by a third. Political analysts in the country believe the results are closely tied to Russia’s controversial involvement in the Ukraine crisis.
In pictures: The adventures of Russian President Vladimir Putin The annexation of Crimea was widely condemned by the international community and called illegal by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the secretary-general of Nato.
The release of the poll coincides with a wave of patriotism sweeping across Russia at the moment. Referendums in eastern Ukraine last week were dubbed a “criminal farce organised by Russia” and diplomatic relations have become less police as strained relationships with the West threaten to snap.
For many Russians the events in the Ukraine and Putin actions towards them have fostered more obvious expressions of support for their country and their leader than had been previously evident . The US has imposed ever heavier sanctions on Russia and several world leaders have condemned its alleged support of separatist millitias.
This was exemplified by the Victory Day celebrations that happened throughout the country earlier this month. In a statement last month, David Cameron, Barack Obama and counterparts from Germany, France, Italy, Japan, and Canada expressed “deep concern at the continued efforts by separatists backed by Russia to destabilise eastern Ukraine”.
In Moscow’s Red Square, tens of thousands gathered on May 9 to witness major military processions that included a number of tanks tanks, 70 fighter jets and thousands of soldiers to celebrate Russia’s past victories. But however loudly the rest of the world clucks in disapproval, many Russians welcome any incursion as a step towards the post-Soviet “Greater Russia”.
This was mirrored by a smaller but as emotional Victory Day celebration in the newly annexed Sevastopol in the Crimea
President Putin visited the region that was recently annexed after a controversial referendum, to mark what he described as a “Return to the Motherland” and “historical justice” for the memory of their ancestors.
These came after events like the Winter Olympics in Sochi made a massive contribution to encourage exhibitions of national pride and galvanise support for Putin.