Unapposed Putin is still the most popular Russian leader(at least according to polls) with 83% of respondents answering positively. This level has risen over the years with him polling at 51% in 2012 and 70% just last year. Only 5% respond negatively when asked.
At the very least one cannot be faulted for interpreting this high popularity to mean that Russian's in general accept Kremlin's domestic propaganda that insists that the annexation of Crimea was legitimate, lawful and the wish of the Crimean people, and that Russia is absolutely not involved in the armed invasion of eastern Ukraine, that it's an internally initiated and sustained rebellion. (Again, taking the polls at face value.) (Read more: Estonian Life No. 8 2017)
Laas Leivat
