Most Russians want Putin to be president again: poll

Russia President Vladimir Putin gives a thumbs up during a visit to the newly opened Zaryadye Park off Red Square in central Moscow, Russia Sept 9, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

MOSCOW - Most Russians want President Vladimir Putin to remain in office, while some are ready to support any successor backed by Putin, a poll showed Wednesday.

According to the poll conducted by the Moscow-based Levada Center on Aug 18-22, 60 percent of the 1,600 Russians surveyed in 48 regions said they would vote for Putin if a presidential election took place on the nearest weekend.

The poll also showed 67 percent of the respondents answered positively to the question "Do you want Putin to head Russia after 2018?"

Meanwhile, 18 percent of the surveyed were ready to support an imaginary presidential candidate made up by the Levada Center, who said Putin backed this candidate.

With inherent restrictions in sociological surveys, it's safe to say that the poll can indicate only one thing, namely absolute trust in Putin and his policies, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Russia will hold a presidential election on March 18, 2018. Putin has yet to announce whether he will run for a new term.

Putin, 64, was elected as Russian president in 2000 and re-elected in 2004. He became president again in 2012 after serving as prime minister for four years. He was also Russia's prime minister from 1999 to 2000.

In 2012, Russia extended its presidential term from four years to six years.

The Levada Center is a Russian non-governmental research organization that regularly conducts sociological polls.