Asked for whom they would vote if presidential elections were held next Sunday, 60% chose Putin, 8% Liberal Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky, 5% Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, 2% businessman Mikhail Prokhorov, and 1% leader of the party A Just Russia Sergei Mironov.

Another 10% were undecided, 1% said they would intentionally damage their voting ballot, and 12% would not go to polling stations, the poll showed.

Putin’s March 16 electoral rating had grown from 53% in a similar poll on March 9 and from 46% in February.

Putin’s current electoral rating has exceeded the one he enjoyed during the 2012 presidential campaign and soon after his victory in the elections.

Putin’s popularity rating has varied on average between 45% and 47% in the past year, according to the Public Opinion Foundation.