MOSCOW. Feb 4 (Interfax) - The ongoing global economic downturn has not significantly changed ideological views of Russians, but the number of those finding it difficult to decide what ideological model they prefer has grown recently, a poll conducted by the VTsIOM sociological survey center has found.

The respondents sharing leftist attitudes and giving priority to socialist ideas, social justice, equality, and protection of working people accounted for some 18% of the Russian population now, although this number had temporarily increased to 24% in November, when the first signs of the economic crisis were looming large, VTsIOM reported in a press release.

About 13% share liberal ideas, economic freedoms, human rights, political democracy, and better relations with the West, compared to 14% in November 2008.

Another 31% (33% in November 2008) advocate conservative nationalism, traditional Russian values, and Russia's independence in international politics.

The rest - about 40%, compared to 30% in November 2008 - could not say what ideological views they share.

The VTsIOM poll showed also that leftist views are more characteristic of senior people older than 60, of whom 24% share these views, while among people under 35 this figure is 14%. Liberal views, on the contrary, are more common for younger people, as 17% share them among people younger than 35 and only 8% among seniors. As regards conservative nationalism, the share of people advocating it is roughly equal in all age groups, it said.