The survey took place between 23 and 26 October 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%.
DO YOU FOLLOW THE CURRENT EVENTS IN SYRIA, AND IF SO, HOW ATTENTIVELY?
|
|
June 13 |
Sept. 13 |
Sept. 15 |
Oct. 15 |
|
I follow the current events in Syria attentively |
8 |
16 |
15 |
23 |
|
I know a bit about the current events in Syria, but I don’t follow them closely |
52 |
57 |
54 |
64 |
|
I know nothing about the current events in Syria |
39 |
27 |
30 |
11 |
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT’S POLICIES TOWARDS SYRIA, AND IF SO, DO YOU APPROVE OF THESE POLICIES?
|
|
Sept. 15 |
Oct. 15 |
|
Entirely approve |
11 |
15 |
|
Somewhat approve |
28 |
38 |
|
Somewhat disapprove |
8 |
15 |
|
Entirely disapprove |
3 |
7 |
|
I am not interested in the Russian government’s policies towards Syria |
33 |
18 |
|
It is difficult to say |
17 |
8 |
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT ARE THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT’S GOALS IN PARTICIPATING IN THE SYRIAN CONFLICT? (multiple answers given)
|
|
All |
Respondents who are interested in the Russian government’s policies towards Syria |
Respondents who are not interested or had difficulty answering |
|
N |
1192 |
408 |
|
|
Attempting to neutralize and eliminate the threat of military action by Islamic radicals and terrorists spilling over into Russian territory |
47 |
56 |
22 |
|
Protecting the government of Bashar Assad in order to prevent a chain of “color revolutions” provoked by the USA around the world |
29 |
35 |
12 |
|
Defending the economic interests of Russian companies in the Middle East |
18 |
21 |
9 |
|
Supporting Bashar Assad’s regime and his fight against the opposition out of fear of massive anti-government protests |
15 |
18 |
6 |
|
Attempting to break up the coalition of Western countries and eliminate their threat to isolate Russia with further sanctions |
13 |
15 |
6 |
|
Attempting to distract the Russian population from the economic crisis and the authorities’ inability to deal with the declining quality of people’s lives, corruption, and incompetency |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
I do not understand why Russia is taking part in this war |
17 |
10 |
37 |
|
It is difficult to say |
8 |
3 |
22 |
AGAINST WHICH POSITIONS WILL THE RUSSIAN AIR FORCE BE CONDUCTING AIR STRIKES IN SYRIA? (one answer)
|
|
Oct. 15 |
|
The Islamic State |
48 |
|
The Syrian opposition |
13 |
|
Both |
21 |
|
It is difficult to say |
19 |
IN YOUR OPINION, HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THE RUSSIAN AIR STRIKES AND MISSILES? (one answer)
|
|
Oct. 15 |
|
Very effective |
30 |
|
Somewhat effective |
40 |
|
Not very effective |
8 |
|
Completely ineffective |
1 |
|
It is difficult to say |
21 |
IN YOUR OPINION, IS THE INFORMATION THAT WESTERN MEDIA OUTLETS ARE CIRCULATING ABOUT THE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES OF RUSSIAN AIR STRIKES TRUE OR NOT?
|
|
Oct. 15 |
|
Definitely yes |
5 |
|
Probably yes |
17 |
|
Probably not |
31 |
|
Definitely not |
22 |
|
It is difficult to say |
25 |
WITH WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING OPINIONS DO YOU MOST AGREE? (one answer)
|
|
2-5 Oct. |
23-25 Oct. |
|
Russia should support Bashar Assad in his fight against the Islamic State and the Syrian opposition |
47 |
50 |
|
Russia should not get involved in the Syrian conflict |
28 |
23 |
|
Russia should align with the Western coalition in the fight against the Islamic State and Bashar Assad’s regime |
8 |
7 |
|
I don’t know anything about this |
8 |
7 |
|
It is difficult to say |
10 |
14 |
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT BENEFITS WILL RUSSIAN MILITARY OPERATIONS IN SYRIA BRING TO RUSSIA? (multiple answers given)
|
|
Oct. 15 |
|
A decrease in the terrorist threat to Russia posed by the Islamic State |
40 |
|
Strengthening Russia’s authority in the Middle East/the world arena |
34 |
|
Normalizing the situation and ending the bloody war in Syria |
22 |
|
Experience in war conditions for Russian military techniques |
14 |
|
Protecting Russian economic interests in Syria |
13 |
|
Improving relations with the USA and other Western countries |
3 |
|
Other |
1 |
|
I don’t see any possible benefits for Russia |
18 |
|
It is difficult to say |
10 |
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT HARM WILL RUSSIAN MILITARY OPERATIONS IN SYRIA BRING TO RUSSIA? (multiple answers given)
|
|
Oct. 15 |
|
It will take up a lot of financial resources, which are necessary for the Russian economy and for resolving social issues in Russia |
41 |
|
Death/injuries to Russian troops during military operations or as a result of terrorist attacks planned against them |
39 |
|
Russia has been caught up in this conflict for a long time, and it will take even longer to extricate itself |
18 |
|
An increase in terrorist threats to Russia from the Islamic State and other radical Islamic groups |
17 |
|
Worsened relations with the USA and other Western countries |
11 |
|
Worsened relations with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and other Middle Eastern countries |
8 |
|
Deepened and drawn out bloody conflict in Syria |
7 |
|
A decrease in Russia’s authority in the Middle East/the world arena |
5 |
|
Other |
<1 |
|
I don’t see any possible harm for Russia |
11 |
|
It is difficult to say |
10 |
IN YOUR OPINION, WILL RUSSIAN MILITARY OPERATIONS IN SYRIA BRING RUSSIA MORE GOOD OR MORE HARM?
|
|
Oct. 15 |
|
More good |
43 |
|
More harm |
19 |
|
Neither good, nor harm |
16 |
|
It is difficult to say |
23 |
IN YOUR OPINION, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT RUSSIAN MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN THE SYRIAN CONFLICT COULD ESCALATE INTO A “NEW AFGHANISTAN” FOR RUSSIA?
|
|
2-5 Oct. |
23-25 Oct. |
|
Undoubtedly, this is exactly what will happen |
7 |
6 |
|
Entirely possible |
39 |
29 |
|
Unlikely |
32 |
41 |
|
Entirely impossible |
6 |
9 |
|
I am not interested in this |
4 |
3 |
|
It is difficult to say |
13 |
13 |
IN YOUR OPINION, SHOULD RUSSIA PROVIDE THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT WITH…
|
|
Definitely yes |
Probably yes |
Probably not |
Definitely not |
It is difficult to say |
|
…political and diplomatic support? |
|||||
|
Sept. 15 |
24 |
43 |
12 |
8 |
14 |
|
Oct. 15 |
31 |
43 |
8 |
7 |
10 |
|
…humanitarian aid? |
|||||
|
Sept. 15 |
18 |
37 |
16 |
13 |
15 |
|
Oct. 15 |
20 |
39 |
18 |
11 |
13 |
|
…military and technical support (consultations, weapons)? |
|||||
|
Sept. 15 |
16 |
27 |
26 |
15 |
17 |
|
Oct. 15 |
23 |
39 |
13 |
12 |
13 |
|
…economic aid? |
|||||
|
Sept. 15 |
13 |
28 |
25 |
15 |
20 |
|
Oct. 15 |
16 |
32 |
24 |
15 |
14 |
|
…direct military support (air strikes)? |
|||||
|
Oct. 15 |
21 |
33 |
14 |
17 |
15 |
|
…direct military support (boots on the ground)? |
|||||
|
Sept. 15 |
6 |
8 |
30 |
39 |
18 |
|
Oct. 15 |
7 |
12 |
29 |
37 |
16 |
|
…receiving refugees and providing them with aid? |
|||||
|
Sept. 15 |
4 |
17 |
30 |
27 |
22 |
|
Oct. 15 |
7 |
17 |
29 |
31 |
17 |
IN YOUR OPINION, CAN THE US AND WESTERN COUNTRIES ON ONE SIDE, AND RUSSIA AND THE CURRENT SYRIAN GOVERNMENT ON THE OTHER SIDE, FIND COMMON GROUND TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND REGULATE THE CONFLICT IN SYRIA
|
|
2-5 Oct. |
23-25 Oct. |
|
Definitely yes |
5 |
4 |
|
Probably yes |
44 |
35 |
|
Probably not |
25 |
29 |
|
Definitely not |
5 |
6 |
|
It is difficult to say |
21 |
26 |
Translated by Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (formerly Monterey Institute of International Studies).