Coronavirus is costing Putin’s popularity Abroad

In March, 63 percent of Russians surveyed expressed support for the president. Putin’s most recent popularity rating is roughly equal to its lowest to date. That was in 2013, a year before the Russian invasion and annexation of Crimea, with which Putin was able to boost his popularity figures again.

The poll said that the support for the president may have been lower because Levada had to approach participants by phone because of the new corona virus. That may have made a 1 or 2 percent difference, according to the Deputy Director.

The number of cases of contamination diagnosed per day recently rose to over ten thousand in Russia, and has not subsided in the past four days. The national crisis center reported 10,599 new cases on Wednesday, bringing the total to 165,929. The death toll in Russia is 1537, after 86 corona-related deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.

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