Independent polling shows that Russians still prefer the Soviet government of the late 70s and early 80s

New polling by the independent Levada Center, reported by the newspaper Vedomosti, shows that Russians are vastly more sympathetic toward the late Soviet government than Russia’s contemporary state officials. Asked to name the “qualities that characterize the Soviet authorities,” 29 percent of respondents said they were “close to the people,” 25 percent said they were “strong,” and 22 percent said they were “just.” When asked about contemporary officials, respondents’ answers were more negative: 41 percent said the government today is “criminal” or “corrupt,” 31 percent said it has lost touch with the people, and 24 percent called it overly bureaucratic.

Vedomosti points out that this trend has persisted even in years when the Kremlin enjoyed its highest popularity, in 2008 when the economy peaked and Russia trounced Georgia in a brief war, and after the annexation of Crimea.