CRI听力:Poll Shows Putin's Approval Rate at 80%

A new opinion poll has found four in five in Russia still support President Vladimir Putin, despite the massive decline in the value of the ruble this year.

The poll, conducted by the Associated Press and the NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research has found that despite the recent sanctions and the falling rate of the ruble, 80-percent of Russians still stand by their president.

"In general we support the policy of the President for all his years of ruling. He does good things for the people."

The poll was conducted between November 22nd and December 7th when the ruble was in the height of its free-fall.

Maria Lipman is a Russia observer.

"People want to rely on something. And right now they certainly rely on Putin - not as a person who is to blame for their economic situations that are deteriorating - but as a person who will rescue them, who will protect them because there is nobody else to lean on to."

Putin is in his 2nd term as President after holding the role from 2000 to 2008.