Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's approval rating slumped this month to the lowest level of his two-year premiership, a poll showed Thursday.
The number of Russians who said they had confidence in Putin slid to 61 percent on June 6, the lowest level since April 2007, according to the poll by the Public Opinion Foundation.
The pollster gave no reason for the fall, although analysts said growing discontent over corruption and the economic crisis combined with confusion over who really rules Russia may be driving the decline.
The approval rating of President Dmitry Medvedev also fell, with 53 percent of Russians saying they had confidence in him, the lowest level since April 2009.
Sociologist Olga Kryshtanovskaya said the slide in approval ratings could be due to uncertainty over who really runs the country.
"People cannot figure out who plays the first role — Putin or Medvedev — and who is going to be the next president, which stuns them," she said.
When asked this week if he would run for president in 2012, Putin, whose approval rating last year reached a high of 71 percent, said he was happy as prime minister.
He added that he had agreed with Medvedev that they should focus on current policy issues rather than complicate the political situation by making statements about 2012.
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.