MOSCOW, December 26. /ITAR-TASS/. President Vladimir Putin has become politician of the year in Russia, director-general of the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (WCIOM) Valery Fyodorov said on Thursday.

Putin got the support of 44% of Russian citizens, Fyodorov said.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu followed President Putin with 8% while Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is supported by 7% of Russian citizens, the WCIOM director-general said.

Putin takes the lead over 10 years, Fyodorov added.