MOSCOW, March 06. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rating has remained at a two-year maximum level for the last two weeks, according to the data published by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (WCIOM) on March 6.

Researchers believe that Putin’s growing rating is the direct effect of the Sochi Winter Olympic Games and the situation around Ukraine and Crimea.

The poll conducted by WCIOM on March 1-2 indicated that 67.8% of respondents approve of Putin’s work.

The poll conducted by WCIOM on March 1-2 indicated that 67.8% of respondents approve of Putin’s work. The acute political situation in Ukraine and Crimea contributed to the result, and 53% of those polled named the crisis in the neighboring country the main news of the week. Successful completion of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, awarding the athletes and preparations for the Paralympics were also among the factors that contributed to the growing support of the Russian president.

The poll conducted by WCIOM on February 22-23 demonstrated the same results – 67.7% of the respondents said they approved of Putin’s policies. The researchers noted that over the last two years on average more than 60% of the respondents supported Putin’s actions. The maximum approval rating was documented in May 2012, when it reached 68.8% right after Putin’s inauguration.