Just 32 percent of Russians believe that the Kremlin protects basic human rights, a new survey has revealed.
Less than two-third of respondents said that the state ensures political freedom and freedom of speech (61 percent and 60 percent respectively), according to researchers at the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Just 45 percent said dissenting opinions were tolerated, while 29 percent said that the government guarantees personal security.
Less than one in five respondents (18 percent) said that all Russian citizens were equal before the law.
The figures mark a small boost in public confidence, which fell drastically after the 2015 financial crisis, Russia's RIA Novosti news site reported Thursday.
In the second half of 2016, public trust in the Kremlin's ability to provide personal security stood at just 24 percent, while the number of Russians who believed in equality before the law remained at 14 percent.
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