Russian poll supports Putin until 2024
One third of Russians expect Vladimir Putin, currently Russian Prime Minister and President elect to remain in office until 2024–and oddly only 5 percent of Russians support the “Russia without Putin slogans” that led protests all over Russia following recent parliamentary and presidential elections, according to the Levada Centre, a Russian public opinion analysis company.
More than 30 per cent of respondents expect Putin to win a fourth term in office and lead Russia until 2024, the report said. Another 11 percent of respondents replied Putin should stay in office as long he wants to. Only 19% of Russians can imagine Russia without Putin.
Those numbers may be surprising to some, but in the same poll Russian citizens declared awareness that most state decisions will be made in a tight circle of influential politicians, 38 percent of respondents believe decisions will be made by political intrigue and there will be no transparency of governance.
The opinion poll also showed only 5 percent of Russians support the “Russia without Putin” and “Putin must go” slogans that lead the December 2011 and January 2012 protests following the parliamentary elections and demonstrations with a 40,000 strong crowd to the centre of Moscow. Protests took place in 97 Russian cities, but faded away following the re-election of Putin as President on March 4 2012. Leaders of the protest movement remain outspoken, such as blogger Alexei Navalny.
The trial of Indie Rock group Pussy Riot is currently attracting controversy and attention, the singers, who took part in the anti-Putin demonstration were arrested for a concert in front of Moscow?s main cathedral are accusing the state for violation of their freedom of speech and demanding protection from President Dmitry Medvedev.
