MOSCOW, February 3 (RAPSI) – The vast majority of Russian citizens, about 80%, favour amendments to the Constitution and regard them as essential, according to the research results of the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center.

Reportedly, social initiatives secured maximum approval of Russians, including fixing of regular pension indexation (backed by 91% of people in the survey) and minimum wage (90% of pollees). Russian people also supported a proposal to increase the residence qualification from 10 to 25 years for presidential candidates (87%). 81% of respondents raised their voice for authorize the Constitutional Court to check draft laws on the request of a Head of the State.

Nearly 70% of Russian nationals want to ban governors, judges, government and parliament members and other officials from having foreign citizenship and residence permit.

A presidential right to appoint security agencies chiefs and regional prosecutors after consultations with the Federation Council was positively assessed by 66%. Primacy of the Constitution over international treaties was backed by 63%.

The poll was conducted on January 24 with the sample amounting 1,600 people.