But, conveniently, the Levada report also contained polling data from a much longer time horizon with many more data points.

FORBES: Some Evidence That 'The Reset' Has Done Its Job

Hearing about these polls, I decided to head over to the Levada Center to see exactly what I could find.

FORBES: Is Putin's Return a Mistake? New Levada Polls Suggest Severe Voter Fatigue

"Russia might lose the most educated, advanced and critically thinking strata of a society", warns Natalya Zorkaya, from the Levada Centre.

BBC: A tale of two Russians

In the same Levada Centre poll, less than 20% of blue collar workers and senior management said they wanted to leave Russia.

FORBES: On Russia, Maybe Not So Bad Afterall?

Small businesses say they want to leave the country, according to a poll by the Levada Centre in Moscow released in May.

FORBES: On Russia, Maybe Not So Bad Afterall?

In its research, the Levada Centre, a Russian independent, non-governmental polling organisation, found that 78% of respondents had never travelled outside the country.

BBC: A tale of two Russians

The Levada Center, an independently run and well-respected outfit, recently released a new poll on Russian public opinion towards South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

FORBES: Russian Public Opinion on South Ossetia and Abkhazia

According to a poll by Moscow-based Levada Center, nearly a third of Russian voters say that the United Russia party is most representative of their political interests.

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Well the Levada Center last conducted a poll on the issue in July of 2010, and conducted similar polls in May of 1998 and August 2005.

FORBES: Russian Attitudes Towards Gays Are Still Really Negative

Although the Levada center is broadly respected as an institution, there is always the possibility that its methodology is flawed or that the results of its polls are somewhat suspect.

FORBES: Russian Attitudes Towards Gays Are Still Really Negative