Majority of Russians want Putin to be president after 2018: survey

Russia's President Vladimir Putin holds a glass during a ceremony of receiving diplomatic credentials from foreign ambassadors at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, November 9, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

MOSCOW - The majority Russians want Vladimir Putin to continue to be their president after 2018, according to a poll by the Moscow-based Levada-Center.

About 63 percent of interviewees answered positively to the question "Do you want Putin to head Russia after 2018," 19 percent responded negatively, and 19 percent couldn't decide.

According to the survey, only 26 percent of the respondents believe a new leader will arise in Russia to replace Putin as president in 2018, while 49 percent think otherwise.

The survey was conducted from October 21 to 24 among 1,600 Russians aged 18 years and older in 48 regions of the Russian Federation.