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Analyst: Demand for opposition under Putin was growing, but was not satisfied

Despite certain socio-economic difficulties, Russian citizens continue to put trust in Putin, experts say

© Vyacheslav Prokofiev/TASS

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MOSCOW, May 5. /TASS/. The demand for the political opposition in Russia’s society during the presidency of Vladimir Putin has been growing, but was never satisfied, member of the Expert Council of the Institute for Socio-Economic and Political Studies Alexei Zudin said on Thursday.

"During the reign of Vladimir Putin the public demand for political opposition was growing in the Russian society. It’s another matter that a significant part of Russia’s society was simultaneously not satisfied with the state of the political opposition institute and did not find this kind of opposition among the present one," he said during a presentation of the Civil Society Development Foundation’s (FoRGO) report "Putin’s majority": structure, dynamics, political preferences."

FoRGO experts have come to the conclusion that despite certain socio-economic difficulties, Russian citizens continue to put trust in Putin. The Russian president’s activities are approved by 82% of respondents, and 84% of respondents admit they will vote for him at the presidential election.

According to sociologists, Putin is backed by supporters of not only the United Russia party but also other parties. Among respondents ready to vote at the parliamentary elections for United Russia, 96% approve of the president’s activity, the same amount assume that they could vote for him at the presidential elections, the report said.

"Putin’s majority" is a democratic formation," Zudin said. "If there is a solid majority - it is not necessarily the Turkmenbashi (Great Leader of All Turkmen) style.".

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