This survey took place between 9-12 December 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 for a selection of 1600 people (with a probability of 0.95) does not exceed:
3.4% for indicators around 50%
2.9% for indicators around 25%/75%
2.0% for indicators around 10%/90%
1.5% for indicators around 5%/95%
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE ADOPTION OF A LAW REGARDING ORGANIZATIONS SERVING AS “FOREIGN AGENTS”?
| Well-informed about this | 2 |
| Heard something, but don’t have a clear understanding | 22 |
| Have not heard anything about this | 73 |
| It is difficult to say | 2 |
IN YOUR OPINION, IS THE IDEA BEHIND THE LAW ON “FOREIGN AGENTS” TO LIMIT THE NEGATIVE INFLUENCE OF THE WEST ON RUSSIA, OR IS IT PRIMARILY A TOOL TO CLAMP DOWN ON INDEPENDENT SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS? (as a percentage of those who know about the law)
| Limit the negative influence of the West on Russia | 56 |
| Primarily a tool to clamp down on independent social organizations | 26 |
| It is difficult to say | 18 |
WHAT ASSOCIATIONS DOES THE EXPRESSION “FOREIGN AGENT” HAVE FOR YOU?
| More negative | 57 |
| More neutral | 33 |
| More positive | 3 |
| It is difficult to say | 8 |
WITH WHAT DO YOU PRIMARILY ASSOCIATE THE EXPRESSION “FOREIGN AGENT”? (OPEN QUESTION, responses ranked)
| Spy, recruiter, foreign intelligence, double agent, infiltrator, recruited | 45 |
| Enemy, enemy of the people, enemy of Russia, traitor, hate Russia, fifth column | 7 |
| Financed from abroad, working for foreign sponsors, hireling | 5 |
| Economics, business, foreign companies, foreign organizations, sales representative, сommerce | 4 |
| James Bond, Agent 007, crime story, movie character | 3 |
| Imposing Western values, Manchurian candidate, representing foreign interests | 3 |
| Foreigner, American, United States | 2 |
| Other negative associations | 2 |
| Representative of another state, Ambassador | 1 |
| Dissenter, liberal, anti-authority | <1 |
| Other | 2 |
| Don’t know, it is difficult to say | 28 |
FOR YOU PERSONALLY, ARE THE FOLLOWING SOURCES OF FINANCING FOR RUSSIAN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ACCEPTABLE?
| Probably acceptable | Probably unacceptable | It is difficult to say | |
| Donations from Russian business | 69 | 12 | 19 |
| Donations from Russian citizens | 64 | 17 | 20 |
| Presidential grants | 61 | 14 | 25 |
| Grants from Russian charities | 60 | 15 | 25 |
| Membership dues | 59 | 18 | 23 |
| Donations from foreign citizens | 41 | 32 | 27 |
| Rendering paid services to other organizations | 40 | 28 | 32 |
| Rendering paid services to the public | 35 | 36 | 29 |
| Donations from foreign business | 33 | 39 | 28 |
| Grants from European charities | 29 | 40 | 31 |
| Grants from American charities | 27 | 43 | 30 |
WHY DO YOU THINK FOREIGN FUNDS AND GOVERNMENTS SUPPORT NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN RUSSIA? (answers are ranked)
| To impose their values and views on Russia | 36 |
| To recruit informers, gather information on Russia | 30 |
| To recruit talented people, take them out of Russia | 24 |
| To garner favor with Russian citizens | 21 |
| To help fight against serious social problems | 13 |
| They have nowhere to put their money/rich and bored | 11 |
| Don’t know | 11 |
| It is difficult to say | 8 |
IN YOUR OPINION, CAN AN ORGANIZATION WHICH RECEIVES MONEY FROM ABROAD REMAIN INDEPENDENT, OR WILL THEY PRIMARILY SERVE THE INTERESTS OF THEIR FOREIGN SPONSORS?
| Can remain independent | 17 |
| Will serve the interests of foreign sponsors | 66 |
| It is difficult to say | 17 |
Translated by Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (formerly Monterey Institute of International Studies).
ANO Levada Center has been included in the register of noncommercial organizations acting as foreign agents. See the Director of the Levada Center’s statement of disagreement with this decision here.