70% of Russian voters to take part in presidential election

Some 70% of respondents said they will certainly go to polling stations to cast their ballot in the upcoming presidential election in Russia, according to a VCIOM survey.

"According to the latest information, 83.3% of Russians, certainly planning to cast their ballot, will be ready to vote for Vladimir Putin during the presidential election," a VCIOM survey says.

In the age categories the results were as follows: Putin has the support of 82.2% among young respondents, 83.3% among respondents aged 45-59 and 88.8% among people aged 60 or older.

The approval ratings of other likely presidential candidates are as follows: LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky - 4.1%, Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov - 3.3%, Yabloko party founder Grigory Yavlinsky - 0.8%, Party of Growth leader Boris Titov - 0.7%, TV host Ksenia Sobchak (from the Civil Initiative party) - 0.3%

The phone interview was conducted on December 15-17, among 1,800 Russians above the age of 18. The margin of error is estimated to be below 2.5%

The presidential election in Russia is scheduled for March 18, 2018.