MOSCOW. Sept 25 (Interfax) - The overwhelming majority of Russian citizens approve the recent signing of amity and mutual assistance treaties with South Ossetia and Abkhazia and do not mind the opening of Russian bases in the two republics, the Russian Public Opinion Study Center (VTsIOM) told Interfax in comments on a poll held in 42 Russian regions on September 20-21.

Eighty-seven percent of the respondents said that the treaties were a positive step while only seven percent voiced a negative attitude (two percent strongly rejected the treaties and five percent said they would rather not support them).

Eighty-one percent of the respondents welcomed the eventual opening of Russian military bases in South Ossetia and Abkhazia (42% supported that decision wholeheartedly, and 39% said they were inclined to support it).

Ten percent voiced a negative opinion (three strongly rejected the idea, and seven percent said they had somewhat negative feelings).

Fifty-five percent of the respondents said that Russia should give economic assistance to Abkhazia and South Ossetia but on temporary terms, for the reconstruction period only.

Twenty-four percent said that the economic support must be permanent. Fourteen percent said that the republics should not receive aid from Russia at all, as they were no part of the federation.