oil prices, combined with western economic sanctions, have left the country with a decimated

加上西方經濟制裁，使俄國失業率激增

employment rate, a devalued currency and a rapidly growing poverty rate. Meanwhile, Russia’s

貨幣貶值、貧窮率急速成長，與此同時

President, Vladimir Putin, saw his approval ratings peak at nearly 90 percent in 2015.

俄國總統普丁2015年的支持度卻達到歷史巔峰，得到近90%民眾支持

This was according to polls from independent researchers at the Levada Center, as well

民調數字來自獨立研究機構列瓦達中心，以及俄國國營民調機構

as state-run polling. So, with all the country’s problems, why do Russians still love Putin?

國家面臨這麼多問題，究竟為何俄國人還是愛戴普丁？

Putin’s persistently high marks are often a shock to the West, as his leadership is

普丁一直以來的高人氣時常讓西方世界驚愕不已

riddled with corruption, scandal and brutal authoritarianism. Since taking office in 2000,

因為他的政權充滿了貪腐、醜聞以及威權獨裁，自從2000年上任總統

Putin has allegedly funneled millions of public dollars into presidential perks, including

據傳普丁已經將數百萬公帑挪作總統津貼

20 palaces, fleets of yachts and aircraft, a luxury watch collection, and even a 80 thousand

花費包括20座宮殿、無數遊艇和私人飛機、名錶收藏，以及要價8萬美元的馬桶

dollar toilet. In fact, roughly one-third of Russia’s budget is believed to go to

其實俄國國會預算據信有三分之一流入政府官員的口袋

public officials, who collect considerably more from bribes than they did before Putin.

在普丁上任後，官員收賄情況較之前急遽加重

Moreover, press freedom has plummeted under Putin, censorship in Russia has been compared

除此之外，媒體自由在普丁政權下大受限制，俄國的媒體審查程度

Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia. Dozens of journalists and Russian dissidents have been murdered

勘比沙烏地阿拉伯和和衣索比亞，自從普丁上任後，數十名記者和異議份子遭到殺害

since Putin took office, most famously Alexander Litvinenko, whose poisoning was allegedly

其中最有名的是Alexander Litvinenko，據說普丁下令將他毒殺

approved by the president. Putin is known to be exceptionally secretive, likely stemming

普丁以行事隱密聞名，可能是因為

from his career as a spy for the Soviet Union’s foreign intelligence agency, the KGB.

他曾擔任蘇聯對外情報局KGB的探員

And yet, most Russians still claim to trust Putin. This is, in part, because he brought

然而大多數俄國人仍表示信任普丁，一部分原因可能是

stability to the country after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. By 1999, the country’s

他為1991年蘇聯解體後的俄國帶來穩定，1999年

GDP had dropped by more than half and quality of life plummeted to an all time low. Many

俄國GDP大跌超過50%，人民面臨前所未有的艱困生活

Russians felt abandoned by the West, slighted by their new government, and in some cases,

許多俄國人覺得被西方國家拋棄，被新政府鄙視，甚至有時候

nostalgic for the Soviet-era. During his 1999 presidential campaign, Putin promised to improve

他們懷念蘇聯時期，普丁在1999年競選總統時

the lives of Russians and create a unique, national identity independent from the West.

承諾改善人民生活，並且創造不同於西方的獨特國族認同

And in many ways, he did. During Putin’s first presidency, nationalism spiked, Russia’s

他的確在各方面都做到了，第一任總統任內，俄國民族主義高漲

GDP rose every year, and by 2007, the economy had completely recovered from its post-Soviet

GDP年年上升，至2007年，經濟已從解體後的低迷和衰退完全恢復

downturn and subsequent recession. But despite his popularity, Russia’s economic boom was

雖然普丁廣受愛戴，但俄國經濟榮景最大原因

largely the result of increased demand for their biggest export: oil.

是市場對其最大宗出口品需求大增，即石油

But beyond economics, Putin also enjoys a heroic cult of personality. He has retained

除了經濟以外，普丁樂於塑造自己英雄一般的人格特質

a take-charge, macho-man image, effectively marketing himself as a fighter for Russian

他維持著負責任的大男人形象，讓人民認為他是俄國的理想鬥士

ideals and the common man. Putin has been portrayed as the protagonist of Russian comics,

同時也是普通人，普丁亦曾化身俄國漫畫、電影和童書主角

movies and children's books. His name and image are even stamped on products like canned

他的名字印在諸多商品上，包括罐頭食品和伏特加

food and Vodka as a way to make them sell.

用以吸引消費者

Even after Russia’s controversial annexation of Crimea in 2014, Putin’s approval rating

甚至在2014年，俄國合併克里米亞的爭議事件爆發之後，普丁的支持度

continued to grow. Perhaps Russians are willing to oversee Putin’s flaws, for fear of the

仍持續成長，俄國人民也許可以忽略普丁的缺點

alternative - a country that is economically stagnant and dependent on aid from the West

因為害怕俄國經濟停滯，又要依靠西方援助，就如1990年代一樣

as it was in the 1990s But Putin’s popularity is not as unique as it may seem.

但普丁的高人氣並不如表面那樣獨特

Demagogues around the world, notably Donald Trump in the United States, are seeing overwhelming

世界各國的煽動家，特別是美國的川普，都得到廣大群眾的支持

support from the public. It’s an age-old syndrome, not to mention a dangerous one.

這種問題存在已久，更別說情況十分嚴重

As such an authoritarian figure, Putin doesn’t seem to take kindly to critics. A number of

普丁身為威權統治者，無法容忍批評他的人

them have been arrested, and even killed. So, who are Putin’s enemies and what has

俄國有許多評論家被逮捕甚至殺害，究竟誰是普丁的敵人？

happened to them? Watch this video up top to find out. And if you’re put off by Putin’s

他們又出了什麼事？請看上方影片，若你對普丁的90%支持度有疑慮

90% approval rating, then you might have doubts about the Russian media overall.

那你可能也不相信俄國的媒體

To learn about just how trustworthy Russian media is, watch the video below. Thanks for watching

想知道俄國媒體可信度為何，請看下方影片

TestTube News, don’t forget to like and subscribe for new videos every day!

感謝收看TestTube News，別忘了按讚和訂閱每日最新影片