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#12 - JRL 7256
BBC Monitoring
Majority of Russians believe tight security may prevent acts of terror - poll
Source: Ekho Moskvy news agency, Moscow, in Russian 0700 gmt 18 Jul 03

Forty-eight per cent of Russians are confident that acts of terrorism, similar to the one committed on 5 July in Moscow' s Tushino airfield, could be prevented, while 37 per cent of those polled believe it is impossible to do so. Such were the results of a poll conducted by the Public Opinion foundation among 1,500 Russians on 12 July, the Ekho Moskvy news agency reported on 18 July.

To prevent terrorist acts the work of law-enforcement agencies and security services should be improved, 23 per cent of those polled believe. Fourteen per cent of those who took part in the survey think that passport checkups, public security and control on borders and roads should be strengthened, while 10 per cent believe that specific measures to resolve the Chechen conflict should be taken.

Nine per cent of Russians believe that toughening laws and punishment in general and for terrorism in particular will be most effective, while six per cent think all non-natives should be ousted from Russia. Two per cent of those polled are confident that the country's internal policy should be changed, bringing the country back to Stalin regime. Fifteen per cent of those who took part in the poll believe that citizens themselves should be organizing patrols and be vigilant.

The same poll showed that 56 per cent fear they may suffer in a terrorist attack. This figure has decreased since September 2001 when 70 per cent of those polled said they feared they may become victims of a terrorist act.

Terrorists' main aim, as believed by 30 per cent of those polled, is to destabilise the situation in Russia, to cause fear, panic and animosity among people. Thirteen per cent describe terrorist acts as Chechen revenge for their relatives, while 11 per cent believe that the organizers have chosen such a way of influencing the future of Chechnya. Eight per cent of those polled reckon that the organizers of the attacks want to demonstrate their strength to the Russian authorities. Meanwhile, 2 per cent believe a desire to eliminate the infidels is behind the terrorist acts.

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