Putin Approval Rating Reaches 76% in Russia
Vladimir Putin keeps a high level of public support in Russia, according to a poll by the Yury Levada Analytical Center. 76 per cent of respondents approve of the president’s performance, up five points since October.

Putin was elected to a second term as president in March 2004 with 71.31 per cent of all cast ballots. In April, Putin ruled out seeking a new mandate, saying, "I will not change the constitution and in line with the constitution, you cannot run for president three times in a row."

Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov—who had previously worked as minister of foreign economic relations and minister of trade—holds lower numbers. 37 per cent of respondents approve of Fradkov’s performance, up one point in a month. Putin appointed Fradkov in March 2004.

On Dec. 9, Putin said regulations to limit the activities of non-governmental organizations (NGO) in Russia are necessary, and said the country should "exercise control" over the activities of specific groups. A bill currently being discussed in the State Duma seeks to forbid the participation of foreign NGOs in the Russian Federation, unless they reopen as Russian entities with the explicit permission of the government.