Shoigu voted the most popular and effective minister among Cabinet members

Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu remains the most effective and popular minister in the Russian government, with an overall positive approval rating of 78%, according to the VTsiOM opinion survey report.

The second and third places go to Sergey Lavrov (foreign minister) (56%) and Deputy Premier Sergei Ivanov (42%), respectively. The most unpopular cabinet members were education minister (37%) and sports minister (31%).

Interestingly, Shoigu has also ‘positively distinguished’ himself on another ministerial rating as the minister with the least income (2.7mln rubles) in 2009, according to official incomes declarations.