MOSCOW, October 17 (RIA Novosti) – Russians rate Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as the country’s most efficient minister, according to a survey released by state-run pollster VTsIOM on Thursday.

Shoigu’s performance received the highest average mark of 4.28 points out of five, up one point since September 2012. He was appointed Defense Minister in November last year; prior to that he headed Russia's Emergencies Ministry.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is Russia’s second most popular minister with 3.81 points, followed by Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov with 3.61 points.

Other ministers in the top ten are Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin (3.27 points), Communications Minister Nikolai Nikiforov and Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko (3.21 points each), First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov (3.20), Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky (3.09) and Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev (3.06).

Other ministers received less than three points.

The survey was conducted in September and involved over 1,600 respondents in 130 Russian cities and towns.