The survey took place between 20 and 23 February 2015 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 134 localities of 46 of the country’s regions. 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%.
IN YOUR OPINION, IS THERE CURRENTLY POLITICAL OPPOSITION TO AUTHORITY IN RUSSIA?
|
|
May 04 |
July 05 |
June 06 |
June 07 |
July 08 |
July 09 |
July 11 |
July 12 |
May 14 |
Feb 15 |
|
Definitely yes |
18 |
14 |
11 |
20 |
15 |
11 |
16 |
21 |
10 |
20 |
|
Probably yes |
24 |
27 |
26 |
33 |
31 |
28 |
35 |
45 |
40 |
46 |
|
Probably not |
25 |
22 |
27 |
14 |
22 |
26 |
33 |
18 |
24 |
14 |
|
Definitely not |
13 |
13 |
12 |
7 |
13 |
12 |
14 |
6 |
9 |
6 |
|
It is difficult to say |
20 |
24 |
24 |
25 |
19 |
22 |
2 |
11 |
17 |
14 |
IN YOUR OPINION, IS THERE CURRENTLY A NEED FOR POLITICAL OPPOSITION TO AUTHORITY IN RUSSIA?
|
|
May 04 |
July 05 |
June 06 |
June 07 |
July 08 |
July 09 |
July 10 |
July 11 |
July 12 |
May 14 |
Feb 15 |
|
Definitely yes |
32 |
34 |
27 |
25 |
27 |
25 |
23 |
27 |
29 |
18 |
18 |
|
Probably yes |
29 |
30 |
29 |
34 |
34 |
32 |
44 |
45 |
43 |
39 |
40 |
|
Probably not |
12 |
9 |
14 |
9 |
14 |
15 |
12 |
19 |
10 |
19 |
16 |
|
Definitely not |
5 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
|
It is difficult to say |
22 |
23 |
24 |
27 |
17 |
24 |
16 |
2 |
15 |
20 |
20 |
WHY, IN YOUR OPINION, DOES RUSSIA NEED OPPOSITION? (In % of respondents who answered that Russia currently needs opposition; multiple answers given)
|
|
Oct. 00 |
Oct. 10 |
Feb. 15 |
|
To keep the authority under control of society/to prevent authorities from getting out of control |
47 |
53 |
42 |
|
To support dialogue between authorities and society |
19 |
27 |
29 |
|
To ensure that society has a choice between the programs of authorities and the opposition |
30 |
27 |
27 |
|
To ensure democratic elections and change of power (today’s opposition could be tomorrow’s authorities) |
22 |
18 |
19 |
|
To allow for the consideration of minority interests in government decisions |
13 |
20 |
16 |
|
Other |
2 |
3 |
1 |
|
It is difficult to say |
5 |
3 |
2 |
WHY, IN YOUR OPINION, DOES RUSSIA NOT NEED OPPOSITION? (In % of respondents who answered that Russia currently needs opposition; multiple answers given)
|
|
Oct. 00 |
Oct. 10 |
Feb. 15 |
|
In these difficult times, we should not waste society’s strength on disputes and feuds |
33 |
31 |
30 |
|
The problems that Russia is facing can only be solved by one strong hand |
23 |
27 |
23 |
|
Putin’s politics reflect the interests of the general public |
9 |
18 |
17 |
|
Opposition prevents Putin from effectively solving our problems |
49 |
17 |
15 |
|
Self-serving interests/low moral character of opposition leaders |
6 |
14 |
10 |
|
Other |
2 |
3 |
5 |
|
It is difficult to say |
6 |
10 |
10 |
IN GENERAL, DO YOU SYMPATHISIZE OR NOT WITH LEADERS OF THE “UNSYSTEMIC OPPOSITION,” INCLUDING MIKHAIL KASYANOV, BORIS NEMTSOV, VLADIMIR RYZHKOV, AND ALEKSEI NAVALNY?
|
|
Dec. 11 |
Jan. 12 |
Feb. 15 |
|
Definitely yes |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
Probably yes |
10 |
12 |
12 |
|
Probably not |
31 |
33 |
37 |
|
Definitely not |
28 |
33 |
31 |
|
It is difficult to say |
28 |
19 |
18 |
WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS TOWARDS MIKHAIL KHODORKOVSKY?*(one answer)
|
|
Aug. 05 |
Sept. 05 |
Dec. 05 |
Aug. 06 |
Oct. 08 |
Oct. 12 |
Jan. 15 |
|
Respect |
3 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
|
Sympathy** |
5 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
10 |
3 |
|
I can’t say anything bad about him |
11 |
10 |
13 |
11 |
10 |
13 |
8 |
|
Neutral, indifferent |
38 |
38 |
41 |
50 |
40 |
48 |
40 |
|
I can’t say anything good about him |
15 |
16 |
8 |
11 |
10 |
7 |
14 |
|
Irritation |
8 |
7 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
|
Dislike |
8 |
8 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
8 |
|
It is difficult to say |
14 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
27 |
16 |
17 |
*The survey was conducted from 23 – 26 January 2015
** Until January 2015 this answer was listed as “empathy”
SOME PEOPLE BELIVE THAT STREET RALLIES AND DEMONSTRATIONS ARE A PART OF DEMOCRATIC EXPRESSION FOR CITIZENS AND THAT AUTHORITIES SHOULD NOT DENY THESE RIGHTS. OTHERS BELIEVE THAT STREET RALLIES AND DEMONSTRATIONS ARE AN INSTRUMENT TO DESTABILIZE ORDER IN THE COUNTRY AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE PROHIBITED. WITH WHICH OF THESE OPINIONS DO YOU AGREE?
|
|
May 08 |
Apr. 10 |
Apr. 11 |
June 12 |
Oct. 12 |
July 13 |
Feb. 15 |
|
Street rallies and demonstrations are a part of democratic expression for citizens to achieve their goals, and authorities should not deny these rights prohibit them |
55 |
59 |
54 |
51 |
48 |
54 |
54 |
|
If street rallies and demonstrations disturb social order and act as a tool for destabilization, then authorities should prohibit them |
32 |
27 |
35 |
37 |
39 |
37 |
34 |
|
It is difficult to say |
12 |
14 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
12 |
FROM THE FOLLOWING LIST OF DEMANDS, WHICH DO YOU BELIEVE ARE MOST IMPORTANT AND WOULD BE WILLING TO SUPPORT? (respondents named no more than five answers)
|
Enact legislation against illicit benefiting by government officials |
32 |
|
Ensure fair and free elections |
30 |
|
End military action vis-?-vis Ukraine |
23 |
|
Put corrupt officials from Putin’s inner circle on trial |
19 |
|
Reduce funding for state-owned companies (Rosneft, VEB, VTB, Gazprombank, etc.) |
15 |
|
Return the investment part of state pensions |
15 |
|
Redistribution of funding in favor of regional and local authorities |
14 |
|
Ensure independence of the judiciary system from other branches of government |
12 |
|
Allow opposition parties and candidates to participate in elections |
10 |
|
Cancel Russia’s countersanctions on food |
10 |
|
Reduce funding for the army and police and redirect the funding towards healthcare and education |
9 |
|
End the information war against the West and Ukraine |
5 |
|
End censorship in the media |
5 |
|
Decentralization of power |
2 |
|
Release of all political prisoners |
2 |
|
There is not a single demand in this list that I would be willing to support |
18 |
|
It is difficult to say |
10 |
Translated by Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (formerly Monterey Institute of International Studies).