Skip to content
Support Us

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Guess who's been named Russia's Man of the Year?

What was that about the Rouble?

Russia Putin AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

YES, IT’S VLADIMIR PUTIN.

We presumed you guessed it.

The Russian President (who has held that title or the Prime Minister office since 1999) has now been given the accolade 15 times in a row.

The survey of 1,500 people in 43 regions put the hunting-loving leader in top spot with 68% of the vote.

According to Interfax, that figure has doubled since 2013. Other contenders included Prime Ministere Dmitry Medvedev, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov.

About 4% of respondents believed there was no man deserving of the title for 2014.

Russia Today reported on the poll, saying: “The public affirmation about Vladimir Putin’s major role in the life of the country looks even more decisive considering researchers within the same poll asked who among scientists and artists was worthy of the mantle. Some 75% of Russians said they had no answer to this question.”

Sports also stumped the Russian respondents in the Public Opinion Foundation Survey. About 65% of people had no answer, and those that did all chose figure and speed skaters, probably related to the success of the national team during Sochi 2014.

Evgeni Plushenko was given top billing, just in front of teenage sensation Julia Lipnitskaya and Olympic champion Adelina Sotnikova.

Putin’s approval rating has reached a record high this year following the invasion of the Ukranian peninsula of Crime.

We’re not sure if the Rouble situation would actually have changed the result but we should note the poll was taken on 7 December.

Read: No sympathy from central bank as Russians told to ‘get used to it’

Yesterday: Here’s just how bad the Russian crisis is… in three graphs

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
54 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hank Schrader
    Favourite Hank Schrader
    Report
    Oct 26th 2015, 9:32 PM

    So what happens when I need a P during the night.. I gotta get up, and if I don’t turn on the lights I miss the bowl and get the floor.. Then my wife blames our 7 year old.

    214
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute jenni
    Favourite jenni
    Report
    Oct 26th 2015, 8:46 PM

    turn everything off, turn the digital clock away, you should be in a blackened room with no lights, do not stimulate your brain. Put on headphones and quietly listen to Iron Maiden, as they sooth you to sleep.

    212
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gooney
    Favourite Gooney
    Report
    Oct 26th 2015, 8:53 PM

    Hahaha very good!

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ben Smith
    Favourite Ben Smith
    Report
    Oct 26th 2015, 9:41 PM

    Night was black, was no use holding back
    ‘Cause I just had to see, was someone watching me
    In the mist, dark figures move and twist
    Was all this for real, or just some kind of hell?

    6-6-6… the Number of the Beast!!

    52
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute JohnAbbs
    Favourite JohnAbbs
    Report
    Oct 26th 2015, 10:52 PM

    The Number of the Beast album was released on 22 March 1982

    Reduce the Date #27

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
    Report
    Oct 27th 2015, 3:37 AM

    I thought it was 616 now Ben??? lol.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
    Report
    Oct 27th 2015, 3:37 AM

    John the number is now ex-directory lol.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ross Hanlon
    Favourite Ross Hanlon
    Report
    Oct 26th 2015, 9:35 PM

    Anything in the book about screaming babies? Both the misses and my son are heading home to Poland for a week shortly, first thing on my agenda is spicy Chinese, beer, classic movies and sleep, plenty of it.

    186
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mcgoo
    Favourite mcgoo
    Report
    Oct 26th 2015, 9:31 PM

    Post-coital sleeps are unbeatable to be fair.

    103
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute JohnAbbs
    Favourite JohnAbbs
    Report
    Oct 26th 2015, 8:44 PM

    Your one on the top image must be working nights,

    65
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall Farrell
    Favourite Niall Farrell
    Report
    Oct 26th 2015, 11:41 PM

    Grand so. I’ll just fill the room with lit candles for a good night sleep.
    What could be the harm?

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Suzie Sunshine
    Favourite Suzie Sunshine
    Report
    Oct 26th 2015, 9:22 PM

    she’s right on most of those tips I do them myself except for the 10 pm bedtime , I’d be wide awake by 2 am if I went to bed at that time ! oh and what’s with the choice of music ?

    45
    Lily
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lily
    Favourite Lily
    Report
    Oct 26th 2015, 10:34 PM

    Fantasising about things that happened today… I think not, once I think about work I can’t sleep. Extremely stressful day at work today.

    Think I’ll fantasise about something else, an actual fantasy where I can slip off into dreamy dream land without even realising it.

    23
    Spud
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Spud
    Favourite Spud
    Report
    Oct 26th 2015, 10:04 PM

    I find Iron Maiden, or indeed, any kind of heavy metal/rock music to be a great way to fall asleep. It plays through the night, and I’ve never had a problem. :)

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Suzie Sunshine
    Favourite Suzie Sunshine
    Report
    Oct 26th 2015, 10:30 PM

    spud that’s great if it works for you !

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Babadook
    Favourite Babadook
    Report
    Oct 27th 2015, 2:58 PM

    Your body can not catch up on sleep. Fact.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
    Report
    Oct 27th 2015, 3:35 AM
    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Larkin
    Favourite Paul Larkin
    Report
    Oct 27th 2015, 6:45 AM

    On the no screens point.
    So if you are using a kindle or kindle app and reading a little bit before you go to sleep is that bad because It’s reading the story that usually helps to go to sleep.

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.