MOSCOW. Aug 12 (Interfax) - The number of Russians who believe that friendly relations between Russia and Georgia are impossible under Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has more than doubled over the last five years, according to public opinion polls.

The number of such people in Russia has grown from 32% in 2004 to 78% now, VTsIOM public surveys center told Interfax on Wednesday after conducting a poll in 140 populated areas in 42 Russian regions at the end of July.

Five years ago, 40% of Russians believed that friendship between Russia and Georgia was possible under Saakashvili, but now there are only 14% of such respondents, and over a quarter of Russians were undecided about prospects of the development of Russian-Georgian relations, the center said.

An overwhelming majority of the respondents - 79% - suggested that Georgia needs a better president than Saakashvili, and 11% said that, while they might not like everything that Saakashvili does, they respect the Georgian people's choice.

Only 2% of Russians respect and like Saakashvili, the poll said.

The opinion that Georgia needs a worthier president is prevalent more among people having a higher or incomplete higher education (83%) than among those having only high school or elementary education (70%).

Less educated people more often said that, while they might not like everything Saakashvili does, they respect the people's choice (14% against 6% of well educated respondents).

Among the respondents believing that Georgia deserves a worthier president than Saakashvili, 88% doubt that Russian-Georgian relations may develop positively. At the same time, among the respondents respecting the Georgian people's choice, 44% believe friendship between Russia and Georgia is possible and about this many people hold the opposition opinion, the poll said.

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