Most Russians In Favour Of Ex-USSR Reintegration - Opinion Poll
Moscow, 15 November: The majority of Russians support the idea of creating an association on ex-USSR territory through reintegration processes. This could be reinstatement of the former USSR on a voluntary basis and an equal footing (23 per cent); a customs union (15 per cent); or a Eurasian economic union (10 per cent), VTsIOM (Russia's major public opinion research agency) experts told Interfax today following surveys in Russia and four former Soviet republics (Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan and Lithuania).
According to the polls, the idea of integration processes was mostly backed by the Kyrgyz (67 per cent) and by Belarusians (62 per cent) and found least support in Azerbaijan (24 per cent) and Lithuania (26 per cent).
Partnership in principle on former USSR territory without a formal association is an idea backed by about one-third of Russian respondents (34 per cent). In Belarus, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan the idea is supported by about one-quarter of the population (26 per cent, 26 per cent and 23 per cent respectively). The suggestion is especially popular among Lithuanians (52 per cent).
Some 8 per cent of Russians were against restoring previous relationships and in favour of complete dissociation on former USSR territory. Opponents of integration numbered 6 per cent each in Belarus and Kyrgyzstan. The idea was especially popular in Azerbaijan (39 per cent of respondents).
According to the poll, Russians still consider Kazakhstan the most stable and successful country on CIS territory (42 per cent against 34 per cent in 2010). Belarus retained second position (35 per cent against 31 per cent in 2010). Ukraine is third, having gone down from 19 per cent in 2010 to 17 per cent at present. These are followed by Armenia and Azerbaijan (9 per cent each), Moldova (5 per cent), Turkmenistan (4 per cent), Uzbekistan (4 per cent), Georgia (3 per cent), Georgia (3 per cent) and Kyrgyzstan (3 per cent). Russians still believe Tajikistan to be the least stable nation (1 per cent at present and in 2010).
Russians still think Kazakhstan, Belarus and Ukraine are their most reliable partners. Kazakhstan's ratings rose from 37 per cent in 2010 to 42 per cent now. It is followed by Belarus (36 per cent against 23 per cent in 2010) and Ukraine (15 per cent against 21 per cent in 2010). Other CIS nations were mentioned less frequently: Armenia (7 per cent), Azerbaijan (5 per cent), Moldova, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan (3 per cent each), and Turkmenistan (2 per cent). Georgia and Tajikistan are only trusted by 1 per cent of Russians (1 per cent each).
As for CIS leaders, the Kazakh president remains most popular among Russians (37 per cent against 32 per cent in 2010), followed by the Belarusian leader (28 per cent against 16 per cent and third place in 2010). The Ukrainian president is trusted by 12 per cent of Russians against 17 per cent in 2010.
The top three are followed by the presidents of Azerbaijan (7 per cent), Armenia (6 per cent), Uzbekistan (3 per cent), Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Moldova and Georgia (2 per cent each). The Tajik leader is only trusted by 1 per cent of Russians.
