#10 - JRL 6524
Putin's rating remains high - poll

MOSCOW. Oct 30 (Interfax) - The rating of Russian President Vladimir Putin remained high in October, and 77% of Russians now approve of his activity as national leader, and 19% do not.

This figure has not changed since September.

Interfax obtained this information on Wednesday from the All- Russian Public Opinion Survey Center (VTsIOM), which derived it from a representative express poll of 1,600 Russian citizens conducted on October 25-28.

The poll also revealed that Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov's rating grew by five percentage points: 52% of Russians approve of his activity and 33% disapprove of it (47% and 41%, respectively, in September).

In October, 45% of respondents praised the government's work, and 46% criticized it (39% and 51% in September). Putin also tops the list of the most trusted Russian public and political figures. When asked to name the politicians the respondents trust most of all, 49% of those polled mentioned Putin (in September, 53%).

Following the president on this list are leader of the Unified Russia party and Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu and Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov, each of whom is now trusted by 15% of respondents (22% and 15%), Prime Minister Kasyanov with 10% (12%), Duma Deputy Chairman Irina Khakamada of the liberal Union of Right Forces (SPS) with 8% (6%), SPS leader Boris Nemtsov with 7% (6%), Kemerovo region Governor Aman Tuleyev with 7% (9%), Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov with 6% (10%), chairman of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Yevgeny Primakov with 6% (7%), and Deputy Prime Minister Valentina Matviyenko with 6% (9%).

Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) Vladimir Zhirinovsky has for the first time failed to make the ten Russian politicians.

As much as 18% (in September 17%) of those polled trust none of the politicians in Russia.