Russia lawmaker Ponomarev explained why sanctions do not affect Putin's rating
State Duma deputy Ilya Ponomarev presented such explanation on why sanctions haven’t reduced Putin’s ratings on Monday in Washington, D.C., the Ukrinform own Washington correspondent reports.
"The impact of sanctions is certainly experienced by everyone in Russia. Of course, everyone can see the dramatic results of rising prices in grocery stores because prices of certain basic food items have more than doubled in recent years," the Russian politician noted.
However, he said the deterioration of living standards of Russians is believed as having no connection whatsoever with their government actions.
"They say that bloodthirsty America is to blame, "that imposed sanctions and wages war against us because we help our Ukrainian brothers fight against the fascist junta," the lawmaker said explaining how Russians view the current situation.
He noted propaganda constantly repeats the phrase that living standards in Russia has fallen because of the fact that Putin can not tolerate injustice because he is not as bad as President Obama.
"Therefore now even sanctions lend their support to presidential rating of Vladimir Putin," said Ponomarev.
In addition, he said they can resolve all problems faced by the managers of economic sector leadership by laying the blame for all failures on external factors.
"In fact, the crisis, through which Russia is experiencing, has begun not with introduction of sanctions, annexation of Crimea,war in Ukraine, but since the presidential campaign of Vladimir Putin in 2012, the year which saw a drop in the social level in Russia", said Ponomarev.
