The number of Russians who would vote for United Russia in parliamentary elections increased from 55 to 63 percent compared to June 2016, according to findings published by the independent pollster Levada Center.
Public support for all other parties declined or was unchanged.
Compared to June last year, 8 percent more respondents said they would vote for a United Russia candidate if the parliamentary elections were held this weekend.
The poll questioned 1,600 Russians in 48 regions from June 23 to 26.
Support for the Communist Party declined 5 percent over the same period, while the number of Russians who said they would vote for the Liberal Democratic Party fell from 14 to 13 percent. In the same period, A Just Russia’s support dropped from 5 to 3 percent.
Support for liberal opposition parties, including Yabloko and Parnas, declined or remained unchanged at roughly 1 percent.
Speaking to the RBC news outlet, Levada sociologist Denis Volkov tied the increase in support for United Russia to the relative quiet on the political scene over the summer, compared to the same time last year when parties were mounting campaigns ahead of the legislative elections held on Sept. 18.
The transition out of the economic crisis and growing consumer optimism also helped to boost support for the ruling party, Volkov said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
