A leading independent Russian pollster says the electoral rating of President Vladimir Putin has fallen under 60 percent for the first time in five years.
According to a survey published on November 22 by the Levada Center, 56 percent of likely voters say they would vote for Putin in elections expected in 2024 -- 10 percentage points fewer than one year ago.
Compared to similar Levada surveys, the last time Putin's electoral support dropped below 60 percent was in 2013.
Putin, who has been president or prime minister since 1999, was sworn in for a new six-year term on May 7 after a landslide victory in a March election.
The vote was marred by allegations of fraud and what international observers said was a lack of a genuine choice.
Unpopular changes to the pension system announced earlier this year have dented his popularity, while euphoria over the widely popular 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula has waned.
Two-thirds of Russians -- 66 percent -- also think Putin is fully responsible for Russia's problems, while 22 percent say he is partially responsible, the Levada poll also found.
Levada polled 1,600 people older than 18 in 136 locations across Russia between October 18-24.
