Personal Legitimacy in the Structure of Public Perception of Power Among VK Users

The article explores the evolving structure of political legitimacy in contemporary Russia, focusing on the rising importance of personal legitimacy in public perceptions of power. Drawing on David Easton’s typology (ideological, structural, and personal legitimacy), the study reveals how moral character, biographical integrity, and symbolic alignment with collective values increasingly shape the acceptability of political leaders. An online survey of 1,500 VK users in Russia was conducted in 2024–2025, weighted by age and gender. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted using the Python package Factor Analyzer to provide an evidence-based mapping of citizens’ perceptions of the traits and risks associated with political leaders. The findings demonstrate that honesty, ideological consistency, and patriotic positioning are prioritized over institutional affiliation or political experience. The article argues that personal legitimacy in Russia functions as a hybrid construct, integrating moral expectations, performative coherence, and media-mediated imagery. This transformation reflects a broader shift in legitimation practices within hybrid regimes, where declining institutional trust intensifies the personalization of power.