Global Perspectives

Contributor Perspectives

A number of polls, especially those conducted by the politically independent Levada Center in Moscow, support the conclusion that Russians genuinely hold leader Vladimir Putin in high regard.

Russia is only now starting to emerge from a two-year recession that has hit its citizens' pocketbooks hard. But many still seem to hold the president in high regard.

Unraveling the Mystery of Putin's Popularity

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United States

Russia

Why is Vladimir Putin so popular in Russia? After all, with the country just barely emerging from a two-year recession brought on by a combination of sanctions and low oil prices, you would think that the president's popularity would be taking a hit. But no. His approval ratings are still remarkably high -- depending on the pollster and the date, they're often over 80 percent. How can that be?

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

Unraveling the Mystery of Putin's Popularity

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