Vladimir Putin is in the midst of a popularity crisis - just days before Russians head to the polls.
Putin - who is standing for his third term as president - and his party, United Russia, have copped some flak in the lead-up to Sunday's (Monday, New Zealand time) parliamentary elections.
At Putin's Putin's last major public appearance, he was greeted with booing and jeers. This was a first in Putin's political career, according to Time, and it seemed to leave him shaken.
When Putin was due to speak at the same venue on November, he did not show up. Three days later he was scheduled to appear at a stadium in his hometown of St. Petersburg, but instead he sent his deputy, Dmitri Kozak. When Kozak took the stage, he was nearly drowned out by the din of booing, whistling and shouts of "Shame!"
A survey released by the Levada Center polling agency showed Putin now inspires less public sympathy than at any point in his career.
