Kremlin to add public opinion metrics to its governor evaluation criteria

The Putin administration has decided to update its performance evaluation criteria for Russian governors to incorporate not just statistical metrics but also survey data, Kommersant reported on Tuesday.

According to the newspaper, the administration’s current governor assessments are based on over 20 metrics, but only one — public trust in authorities — depends on survey responses. Most other indicators are based on statistical data like poverty levels, urban environment quality, and road infrastructure conditions.

Now, however, the Putin team “wants to understand how citizens themselves evaluate changes on the ground.” One source explained that ignoring public opinion risks governors presenting favorable reports while residents see few tangible benefits (for example, if housing construction is booming but rents are unaffordable).

The administration’s governor evaluation system was last updated in 2021 by presidential decree, according to Kommersant.