Putin’s popularity plummets amid COVID outbreak

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approval rating fell in April to a historic low as the coronavirus crisis engulfs the country, along with the rest of the world, according to a report on CNBC.

Putin’s approval rating fell to 59 percent in April, down from 63 percent in the previous month, according to a poll carried out by the independent Levada Center in Russia, which surveyed 1,608 Russian adults between April 24-27.

The poll was conducted by telephone rather than face to face, and the pollster said this “significant” change in the methodology could have contributed to Putin’s lower rating. In January, his approval rating stood at 68 percent, and in February, at 69 percent.

The figure means it has hit lows not seen since Putin first rose to power in 1999.

The poll comes as Russia’s president grapples with the coronavirus outbreak in the country — perhaps the biggest challenge that has faced him during his 20 years of leading the country, whether as president or prime minister (he has alternated between the roles since late 1999).

Russia on Wednesday reported its highest ever daily coronavirus death toll of 135, bringing the country’s total fatalities to nearly 3,000.

Overall infections also passed 300,000, but the number of active virus cases in the country dropped for the first time.

Russia has recorded far fewer deaths than other countries with large outbreaks, but critics have cast doubt on the low official mortality rate and accused authorities of under-reporting in order to play down the scale of the crisis.