Putin's Approval Rating Tanks Amid Pension Friction

Russian president Vladimir Putin has long enjoyed a high approval rating but, this infographic shows, the latest Levada-Center surveys have revealed a steep drop off in recent months. The main reason for this change in mood is a planned raising of the retirement age in the country - gradually from 60 to 65 for men and from 55 to 63 for women. Having been consistently above 80 percent in recent years, the dip in popularity has seen Putin's rating hit 67 percent.