Polls conducted by both Russian state and independent institutions continue to record growing public discontent with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, likely due to the increasing number of military casualties in the war against Ukraine and the Kremlin's intensified censorship campaign. This is reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), informs UNN.
Details
It is noted that the Russian state sociological institution "All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion" (VCIOM) published on April 24 the results of a poll for the week from April 13 to 19, which indicate that Putin's approval rating declined for the seventh consecutive week from 66.7 percent during the week from April 6 to 12 to 65.6 percent during the week from April 13 to 19.
A source from an unspecified government media organization told the Russian opposition outlet "Meduza" that the political bloc of Russia's Presidential Administration advised Russian state media either to cite a more favorable approval rating for Putin obtained from the Kremlin-linked "Public Opinion Foundation" (FOM), or not to publish poll data reports at all. FOM's latest poll data showed that Putin's approval rating stood at about 76 percent during the week from April 17 to 19 - a difference of nearly ten points compared to the VCIOM poll for the same period.
In ISW, it is assumed that the Kremlin likely retains political influence over the poll data of Russian state sociological organizations, "and it is notable that state institutions acknowledge the medium-term trend of growing domestic discontent with Putin after four years of war".
"Putin's support decline is occurring amid intensified Kremlin efforts to censor Russia's open internet and rising military casualties among the population. Kremlin officials opposing new censorship restrictions may allow or encourage state sociological agencies to release lowered poll figures in order to force Putin to go against pro-restriction factions," the analysts summarize.
Reminder
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has essentially confirmed the course toward strengthening digital control in Russia, explaining mass internet blockings by "security considerations" and a gradual transition to a rigidly restricted digital environment.
Putin's approval rating among Russians sharply dropped to 71% - ISW05.04.26, 10:20