Moscow, 5 July: Less than a third of Russians (28 per cent) believe that protest actions held by the opposition have brought a positive result and changed the situation in the country for the better, while a majority (59 per cent) hold the opposite view. Such data has been reported to Interfax by the Levada Centre on the basis of the results of a nationwide opinion poll conducted in June.

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According to 64 per cent of those polled, such events are practically unimportant for Russia's future. Twenty-seven per cent of those polled said that such actions were important for the country.

Russians have, on the whole, an indifferent attitude towards the protest actions which have recently taken place in Moscow (20 per cent). The same number noted that they "do not share the position of those taking part in the rallies, but respect their right to express their opinion in such a way". One in four people (26 per cent) are interested in the actions or approve of them. One in 10 people (10 per cent) said that members of the opposition could express their opinion in a different way. Another 8 per cent (of those polled) disapprove of the rallies.

Speaking about the motivation of those who take part in protest actions, 43 per cent of those polled supposed that those who took part in the rallies expressed "accumulated dissatisfaction with the situation in the country". In the opinion of 28 per cent (of those polled), participants in the rallies are dissatisfied "with the fact that the authorities do not take into account people such as they are". Twenty-three per cent believe that this is "the desire to express their indignation at the falsification of elections". At the same time one in five people (21 per cent) are sure that those taking part in the rallies are paid for participating in the actions.

More than a half of those polled (51 per cent) believe that rallies and demonstrations are "a normal democratic way of achieving their goals by citizens and the authorities have no right to ban them". At the same time, 37 per cent noted that if street actions "get in the way of people around them or lead to disturbances, then the authorities should ban them".

Commenting on the searches conducted in (the homes of) a number of opposition leaders, 48 per cent of those polled expressed the view that this had been done on the legitimate basis, but 33 per cent of them added that, nonetheless, "this is political pressure on people disliked by the authorities". One in five people (21 per cent) believe that the searches "are completely illegal", while a third (31 per cent) found it difficult to reply.

An overwhelming majority of those polled (76 per cent) also said that they were not prepared to take part in protest actions if they were held in the nearest future. Fourteen per cent of Russians would take part in such actions, the poll showed.

Keywords: Russia, Protests, Politics - Russian News - Russia

Moscow, 5 July: Less than a third of Russians (28 per cent) believe that protest actions held by the opposition have brought a positive result and changed the situation in the country for the better, while a majority (59 per cent) hold the opposite view. Such data has been reported to Interfax by the Levada Centre on the basis of the results of a nationwide opinion poll conducted in June.

file photo
According to 64 per cent of those polled, such events are practically unimportant for Russia's future. Twenty-seven per cent of those polled said that such actions were important for the country.

Russians have, on the whole, an indifferent attitude towards the protest actions which have recently taken place in Moscow (20 per cent). The same number noted that they "do not share the position of those taking part in the rallies, but respect their right to express their opinion in such a way". One in four people (26 per cent) are interested in the actions or approve of them. One in 10 people (10 per cent) said that members of the opposition could express their opinion in a different way. Another 8 per cent (of those polled) disapprove of the rallies.

Speaking about the motivation of those who take part in protest actions, 43 per cent of those polled supposed that those who took part in the rallies expressed "accumulated dissatisfaction with the situation in the country". In the opinion of 28 per cent (of those polled), participants in the rallies are dissatisfied "with the fact that the authorities do not take into account people such as they are". Twenty-three per cent believe that this is "the desire to express their indignation at the falsification of elections". At the same time one in five people (21 per cent) are sure that those taking part in the rallies are paid for participating in the actions.

More than a half of those polled (51 per cent) believe that rallies and demonstrations are "a normal democratic way of achieving their goals by citizens and the authorities have no right to ban them". At the same time, 37 per cent noted that if street actions "get in the way of people around them or lead to disturbances, then the authorities should ban them".

Commenting on the searches conducted in (the homes of) a number of opposition leaders, 48 per cent of those polled expressed the view that this had been done on the legitimate basis, but 33 per cent of them added that, nonetheless, "this is political pressure on people disliked by the authorities". One in five people (21 per cent) believe that the searches "are completely illegal", while a third (31 per cent) found it difficult to reply.

An overwhelming majority of those polled (76 per cent) also said that they were not prepared to take part in protest actions if they were held in the nearest future. Fourteen per cent of Russians would take part in such actions, the poll showed.

Article also appeared at http://www.opendemocracy.net/od-russia/mikhail-loginov/russian-journalists-poor-venal%E2%80%A6-but-usually-honest bearing the following notice: