I am saying that Putin is genuinely popular in Russia. That is not the same as saying the Putin regime is a paragon of democratic liberty. Nor should it be taken as praise. Donald Trump is genuinely popular too.
EDIT: If something is wrong with Levada, then perhaps US-based Pew is non-fraudulent enough?
Putin isn't the only example of a popular hegemonic autocrat where elections provide(d) just the veneer of democracy. Those which immediately spring to mind include Alberto Fujimori, the ruling parties of Malaysia and Singapore, and Hugo Chavez. I would suggest this book on the topic which most research libraries will have.