According to the VTSIOM All-Russian Centre for the Study of Public Opinion, Russian Prime Minister, the leader of the United Russia party Vladimir Putin continues to stay ahead of the other presidential candidates, his popularity rating having reached 48%. This follows from the Centre’s latest public opinion poll returns.

According to VTSIOM, the approval of President Dmitry Medvedev’s performance in the first week of 2012 has grown to 57%, while that of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to 58%. Early last month, approval figures were 51% both for the President and Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, the ratings of United Russia have also grown to 40% as opposed to 34% to 36% in December. The figures for the other political parties remained unchanged.

VTSIOM polled 1,600 people in 138 areas of 46 Russian regions and republics on the 7th and 8th of this month.