Most Russians consider the critical situation in the housing and utilities sector the most pressing problem in the country, according to the recent opinion poll. The following problems are inflation, low living standards and corruption.

      The majority of respondents, 58 percent, said housing and utilities problems were their main concerns, according to the VTsIOM state pollster. Many people express their discontent with electricity prices, which are expected to rise 12-15 percent by July 2013. Moreover, heating charges will go up 8-10 percent, and natural gas prices are set to rise at a rate of 15 percent a year in the near future.

      Corruption and low living standards were listed as important by 50 and 51 percent respectively. Inflation and high prices were also cited as very important by 51 percent, while Russia's demographic crisis was listed by just 13 percent of respondents, the pollster reports.

      Only 14 percent of respondents mentioned human rights, development of democracy and terrorism as main problems in Russia.