KIEV, April 13 (RIA Novosti) - Ukrainians say the country's third president, Viktor Yushchenko, whose term of office is to end late this or early next year, is the worst head of state since Ukraine gained independence in 1991.

According to a poll conducted by TNS Ukraine, just 7% of Ukrainians rate Yushchenko the best president of the three, the others being Leonid Kuchma, who held the post from 1994 until 2005, and Leonid Kravchuk (1991-1994).

A total of 21% said Kravchuk was the best, while 39% put Kuchma on top. Twenty-seven percent of respondents found difficulty answering the question and 6% refused to answer.

The poll was conducted March 6-14, its results were published on the pollster's website. A total of 1,200 people aged 16-75 were polled, with the statistical margin of error not exceeding 3%.