Russians not expecting mass unrest over crisis - opinion poll
Interfax
Moscow, 25 December: Russians are not expecting mass protests over falling living standards. Only one-fifth of Russians are prepared to participate in protests, VTsIOM public opinion research agency experts told Interfax today, with reference to December polls.
Almost two-thirds of Russians (61 per cent) consider mass protests over declining living standards to be unlikely at present. The figure for March was seven per cent higher.
The proportion of Russians who consider such actions to be quite possible rose in the past nine months - from 21 per cent in March to 30 per cent in December.
The same figure was registered by VTsIOM experts in December 2006 and October 2007 (30 per cent in both cases). In March 2006, almost half Russia's population, 48 per cent, said such actions of protest were possible.
According to a poll conducted on 20-21 December in 140 settlements in 42 Regions, Territories and republics of Russia, the proportion of those who consider mass protests least likely was the greatest among residents of the Southern Federal District (66 per cent); the Urals, Northwest and Far Eastern Federal Districts (63-64 per cent); small towns and villages (68 and 70 per cent, respectively). Such protests were considered most likely by residents of the Central Federal District and the Volga Federal District (37 and 35 per cent, respectively); Moscow, St Petersburg and other large cities (43-47 per cent).
Every fifth Russian (21 per cent) is ready to participate in mass protests personally, the poll showed. The proportion of such respondents rose slightly in the past nine months (since March), by 3 per cent.
The proportion of those most likely to participate in protests was the greatest in the Far East (29 per cent) and in the south (26 per cent). Respondents from large cities, small towns and villages agreed with residents of the above regions (23-24 per cent). Supporters of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (34 per cent) and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (31 per cent) were also more likely to support such protests.
Two-thirds of Russians (66 per cent) said that they would not support such actions (their proportion decreased by 6 per cent since March - from 72 per cent). Such opinion was most often expressed by residents of the Urals and Siberia (70-73 per cent); residents of Moscow and St Petersburg (74 per cent) and medium-sized towns (74 per cent).
Supporters of the One Russia party more often than others said they would not support mass protests against falling living standards (75 per cent and 72 per cent [two figures, as received]).
The less wealthy Russians are, the more likely they are to support mass protests: 28 per cent of people on smaller incomes and only 16 per cent of wealthy respondents, VTsIOM experts said.