This survey took place between 22 and 25 April 2016 and was conducted throughout all of Russia in both urban and rural settings. The survey was carried out among 1600 people over the age of 18 in 137 localities of 48 of the country’s regions. The survey was conducted as a personal interview in respondents’ homes. The answer distribution is presented as percentages of the number of participants along with data from previous surveys. The statistical error of these studies does not exceed 3.4%.
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE RECENT “PANAMA SCANDAL,” INVOLVING THE CONCEALMENT OF BUSINESSMEN AND POLITICIANS’ INCOMES IN OFFSHORE ACCOUNTS, AND IF SO, DOES THIS INTEREST YOU?
| Apr.16 | |
| Yes, and I am interested | 14 |
| Yes, but I am not uninterested | 29 |
| Haven’t heard anything | 56 |
| It is difficult to say | 2 |
DID IT SURPRISE YOU TO LEARN THAT CLOSE FRIENDS OF PUTIN ARE AMONG RUSSIAN BUSINESSMEN MOVING THEIR MONEY TO OFFSHORE ACCOUNTS, OR WAS IT NOT SURPRISING? (as a percentage of those respondents who have heard of the “Panama scandal”)
| Apr.16 | |
| It was surprising | 30 |
| It was not surprising | 53 |
| It is difficult to say | 18 |
IN YOUR OPINION, DOES THIS INFORMATION CAST A PALL OVER PRESIDENT PUTIN, OR DOES IT NOT INVOLVE HIM PERSONALLY? (as a percentage of those respondents who have heard of the “Panama scandal”)
| Apr.16 | |
| It casts a pall over President Putin | 40 |
| It has nothing to do with Putin personally | 47 |
| It is difficult to say | 13 |
WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS THE MAIN PURPOSE BEHIND THE PUBLICATION OF THIS INFORMATION? (as a percentage of those respondents who have heard of the “Panama scandal”; one answer)
| Apr.16 | |
| Discrediting Vladimir Putin personally | 34 |
| Fighting tax evasion and income concealment by politicians and businessmen around the world | 26 |
| Discrediting politicians from different countries | 18 |
| Fighting for transparency in the international financial system | 12 |
| It is difficult to say | 10 |
WHAT SHOULD RUSSIA DO IN RESPONSE TO THE PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION REGARDING RUSSIAN BUSINESSMEN MOVING MONEY TO OFFSHORE ACCOUNTS? (as a percentage of those respondents who have heard of the “Panama scandal”; multiple answers)
| Apr.16 | |
| Investigate these cases | 48 |
| Legally restrict the transfer of money to offshore accounts or make it illegal | 39 |
| Other | 2 |
| Nothing | 9 |
| It is difficult to say | 9 |
DO YOU THINK THE PUBLICATION OF THIS MATERIAL WILL HAVE ANY CONSEQUENCES IN RUSSIA? (as a percentage of those respondents who have heard of the “Panama scandal”; multiple answers)
| Apr.16 | |
| It will diminish trust in the country’s leadership | 16 |
| It will lead to notable resignations in the country’s leadership | 15 |
| Authorities will take severe measures against critics, the opposition, and independent journalists in order to suppress active discussion of this information | 14 |
| Other | 2 |
| It will not have any consequences | 37 |
| It is difficult to say | 18 |
IN APRIL, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AT EVERY LEVEL WERE REQUIRED TO DECLARE THEIR INCOME. DO YOU THINK THESE DECLARATIONS USUALLY REFLECT ALL OF THEIR INCOME AND PROPERTY, OR ONLY A PART?
| Apr.10 | Apr.11 | Apr.12 | Apr.13 | Apr.15 | Apr.16 | |
| All | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 5 |
| Most | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 8 | 14 |
| Little | 44 | 43 | 38 | 43 | 40 | 40 |
| Very little | 34 | 34 | 32 | 28 | 26 | 29 |
| It is difficult to say | 10 | 11 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 12 |
DO YOU THINK THAT VLADIMIR PUTIN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAGNITUDE OF CORRUPTION AND FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF POWER OF WHICH HIS OPPONENTS SO OFTEN SPEAK?
| Mar.13 | Apr.14 | May.15 | Feb.16 | Apr.16 | |
| Fully | 39 | 36 | 37 | 26 | 26 |
| Largely | 34 | 42 | 43 | 40 | 33 |
| Only partially | 15 | 14 | 14 | 21 | 25 |
| He can’t be responsible for all that | 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 9 |
| It is difficult to say | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
DO YOU THINK THAT PUTIN IS GUILTY OF THE ABUSES OF POWER OF WHICH HIS OPPONENTS ACCUSE HIM? WITH WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING ASSERTIONS WOULD YOU MOST AGREE?
|
Apr. 12 |
Dec. 12 |
Aug. 13 |
May. 14 |
Sept. 14 |
Jul. 15 |
Apr. 16 |
|
| He is guilty without a doubt, which is supported by information available on the Internet and in independent media | 16 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 14 |
| Probably, like all high-ranking officials, but I know very little about this and don’t follow it closely | 32 | 37 | 42 | 30 | 34 | 29 | 37 |
| Even if he is guilty, it is more important that the country lives better under him | 25 | 14 | 18 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 18 |
| Whatever is said or written, I don’t believe that Vladimir Putin has ever abused his power | 11 | 15 | 13 | 19 | 18 | 22 | 17 |
| It is difficult to say | 16 | 23 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 14 |
Translated by Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (formerly Monterey Institute of International Studies).