MOSCOW. Feb 19 (Interfax) - Almost half of Russians believe that democratic processes are unfolding in the country but every fifth sees signs of autocracy, a sociological study indicates.

Over one third of the polled (35%) said that there is democracy in Russia and it is developing. However, 19% of respondents felt that anarchy is growing and 19% more said that dictatorship is taking root. The latter group has grown by 9 percentage points since 2010, sociologists from Levada-Center told Interfax quoting the results of a nation-wide poll taken in January.

Also 10% of the respondents say a pre-perestroika political order is returning.

Only 5% of participants in the study gave a positive answer to the question whether there is democracy in Russia while 39% said there is only partial democracy, 32% - that democracy has not taken root and 20% - that there is less and less democracy.

The poll conducted in 130 towns and cities in 45 territories of Russia indicted that 26% don't sympathize with any political forces, 21% support democrats, 17% - "the party of power", 15% - Communists and 4% - "patriots."

As for the future of Russia, 21% of the polled wished to see it as a socialist state similar to the Soviet Union and 31% as a Western-type country with a democratic political system and market economy.

However, many more - 41% - felt that Russia should have a special political system because it follows its own road of development.

Asked by sociologists to explain what they meant by its own road, 41% said they meant economic development but with an emphasis on care for the people instead of profit and interests of "the masters of life", 20% - respect for the spiritual and moral aspect of relations between the state and public in politics, 18% - the difference between the values and traditions of Russia and the West.

Keywords: Russia, Government, Politics - Russia News - Russia

MOSCOW. Feb 19 (Interfax) - Almost half of Russians believe that democratic processes are unfolding in the country but every fifth sees signs of autocracy, a sociological study indicates.

Over one third of the polled (35%) said that there is democracy in Russia and it is developing. However, 19% of respondents felt that anarchy is growing and 19% more said that dictatorship is taking root. The latter group has grown by 9 percentage points since 2010, sociologists from Levada-Center told Interfax quoting the results of a nation-wide poll taken in January.

Also 10% of the respondents say a pre-perestroika political order is returning.

Only 5% of participants in the study gave a positive answer to the question whether there is democracy in Russia while 39% said there is only partial democracy, 32% - that democracy has not taken root and 20% - that there is less and less democracy.

The poll conducted in 130 towns and cities in 45 territories of Russia indicted that 26% don't sympathize with any political forces, 21% support democrats, 17% - "the party of power", 15% - Communists and 4% - "patriots."

As for the future of Russia, 21% of the polled wished to see it as a socialist state similar to the Soviet Union and 31% as a Western-type country with a democratic political system and market economy.

However, many more - 41% - felt that Russia should have a special political system because it follows its own road of development.

Asked by sociologists to explain what they meant by its own road, 41% said they meant economic development but with an emphasis on care for the people instead of profit and interests of "the masters of life", 20% - respect for the spiritual and moral aspect of relations between the state and public in politics, 18% - the difference between the values and traditions of Russia and the West.