Russians Gear Up for Protests but No Coup in 2012 - Poll

A protest rally against the Putin regime over alleged election fraud in Moscow on December 24, 2011. Photo by RIA Novosti

The majority of Russians expect greater political unrest in the country in 2012 but no "coup" of the Putin regime, according to a poll of the Levada Center.

As Russia enters 2012, the year of presidential elections, the majority of Russians expect protests, the poll results found, as cited by the Levada website and RIA Novosti.

Last month, Russia saw a series of protests against alleged fraud in the December 4 parliamentary elections, which brought victory to the ruling United Russia party led by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, a presidential candidate in the elections due in March.

Hence, 50% of respondents in the poll said more protests were likely to take place after the elections against 25% who said there might not be any further protests.

49% of respondents said the political situation was likely to deteriorate after the elections and 26% said the situation will not get worse.

However, 45% think the protests were unlikely to reach the point of a coup against 17% who said they might.

According to the Levada Center, only 36% of respondents polled between December 16 and 20 said they would vote for Vladimir Putin if the presidential elections were held in the next few days, which is a significant drop in the politician's ratings that hit 79% in 2007.

The opinion poll was conducted on December 16-20 among 1,600 people above the age of 18, both rural and urban residents of 130 towns and villages in 45 regions of Russia.

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