REUTERS

The results of the VTsIOM poll were presented in TASS on Tuesday.

The company's researchers said that an increase in the president's approval rating had been registered amid spring 2014 developments in Crimea. Putin's rating began to grow in March climbing to 86% in May (from 64% percent in February). In October it was 87%.

According to the poll, the Russian president's approval rating has remained persistently high over the past 18 months exceeding 84%. It has maintained high positions for 16 years never falling below 60% since 1999, judging by monthly averages.

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VTsIOM said the greatest increase in Putin's approval ratings in the past two years had been registered among the least well off citizens – from 45% in November 2013 to 82% in May 2015. His approval rating grew from 63% to 88% among respondents with average income.

Polls were conducted from 1999 to 2015 in 46 regions of Russia, with 1,600 people surveyed during each poll. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.