Russian Opinion Poll Finds Mixed Views On Controversial Bill On Rallies
Interfax - 5.31.12 - JRL 2012-99

Pro-Kremlin MPs' initiative to introduce tougher penalties for protest organizers received a mixed response from the Russian public, corporate-owned Russian news agency Interfax reported on 31 May quoting the findings of an opinion poll carried out by the All-Russia Public Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM) on 26-27 May among 1,600 people in 138 population centres in 46 regions of Russia.

According to the poll, 68 per cent of citizens support the provisions of the draft bill on introducing venues similar to London's Hyde Park and banning rally participants from wearing face masks.

However, 47 per cent of those polled are against higher fines for violations of the established procedure for organizing or staging rallies, while 37 per cent support higher fines.

Most Russians (64 per cent) support the initiative to punish the organizers if rally participants receive injuries that the organizers fail to prevent, the poll found.

The initiative to introduce penalties in the form of community service was supported by 54 per cent of those polled.

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

Pro-Kremlin MPs' initiative to introduce tougher penalties for protest organizers received a mixed response from the Russian public, corporate-owned Russian news agency Interfax reported on 31 May quoting the findings of an opinion poll carried out by the All-Russia Public Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM) on 26-27 May among 1,600 people in 138 population centres in 46 regions of Russia.

According to the poll, 68 per cent of citizens support the provisions of the draft bill on introducing venues similar to London's Hyde Park and banning rally participants from wearing face masks.

However, 47 per cent of those polled are against higher fines for violations of the established procedure for organizing or staging rallies, while 37 per cent support higher fines.

Most Russians (64 per cent) support the initiative to punish the organizers if rally participants receive injuries that the organizers fail to prevent, the poll found.

The initiative to introduce penalties in the form of community service was supported by 54 per cent of those polled.