Russians welcomes 2011 more positively. They ask Father Frost for health and improving their well-being.

MOSCOW, December 23, 2010. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (WCIOM) presents the data describing what feeling Russians have bidding farewell to 2010 and what they expect from 2011, as well as what events and persons are regarded to be the most important for Russians in 2010.

New Year: assessment and expectations

Most of Russians are neither enthusiastic, nor negative when they bid farewell to 2010 and welcome 2011; the share of such respondents keeps increasing year by year (from 44% in 2007 to 51% in 2010). The share of optimistic views has been stable(33%). Those who are pessimistic are in the minority (12%).

Optimistic attitudes are expressed by young Russians (51%) and those with high level of income (57%). Elderly respondents and those with low level of income do not feel any emotional recovery (58 and 55% respectively) or have negative attitudes (14 and 20% respectively).

2010 appeared to be more positive for Russians than 200, when the crisis took place. Over the recent three years, the share of Russians who positively assess their personal results for 2010 was decreasing (from 62% in 2007 to 42% in 2009). However, the number of such respondents has slightly increased (46%). The share of those who think that 2010 was hard for them has declined from 56 to 51%. In 2009 the proportion of those who thought that 2009 was very difficult for Russia reached its maximum over the entire period of measurement (75%). Now that figure has fallen up to 67%. The share of those respondents who think 2010 was rather good for Russia has slightly increased (from 20% to 25%).

Russians are increasingly positive towards 2011. After the drop in confidence in the upcoming year`s success due to the crisis (49% in 2008), those Russians positively evaluating the future grew up to 62%. Russians rarer expect hardships to happen in their family next year (from 43% in 2008 to 26% in 2010).  On the national scale the forecast looks more and more positive: 51% believe that 2011 would be good for Russia (in 2008 - only 38%). The share of Russians expressing negative views is constantly going down (from 54% to 35% over 2008-2010).

Live Christmas trees are replaced by the artificial ones. Whereas in 1998 Russians set a live Christmas tree (35%), currently they use the artificial one instead (41% versus 26% in 1998).

Asked what they would like Father Frost to give them, most of Russians ask for health to themselves and their relatives (28%) and improving well-being (25%). Russians also mention housing issue (12%), purchasing car (7%) and other.

Events of the year

The main topic of 2010 mentioned by Russians is summer fires (6%).  Natural disasters and abnormal heat are included in top events as well (5 and 4% respectively).  Sports events were highly ranked: 5% point out Russia`s victory to host World Cup 2018, 2% - preparation to host Winter Olympics in Sochi. World financial crisis that was the number one topic in 2008-2009, currently was ranked lower than fires and natural disasters (4%).

The main national event mentioned by respondents is the resignation of Yury Luzhkov and appointment of Sergey Sobyanin as the Moscow mayor, as well as his first steps in office. The second place is held by summer fires which are among top world events, according to Russians. Respondents also recall riots on Manege Square, and establishment of relations between Russia and other countries and et cet.

Persons of the year

Vladimir Putin is recognized politician number one (55%), followed by Dmitry Medvedev who is being ranked higher year by year (from 9 to 37% over 2006-2010). The third place with a big gap is held by Vladimir Zhirinovsky (5%), followed by Sergey Sobyanin (4%), Gennady Zyuganov and Sergey Shoigu (2% for each) and Sergey Lavrov (1%).

As to sports personalities, for the third time the first place is taken by Andrey Arshavin; however, the number of those who vote for him has decreased from 18 to 11%. Evgeny Plyuschenko was ranked second which is higher than his third place in 2009 (5% versus 3% a year ago). Elena Isimbaeva`s rating has fallen from 7 to 3%,; she holds the third place among Russian athletes.

According to Russians, best actors are Sergey Bezrukov and Maksim Averin (4% for each), followed with a small gap by Elizaveta Boyarskaya and Mariya Poroshina (3% for each), Konstantin Khabensky (2%, 7% - a year ago), Ya. Boyko and V.Galkin (2% for each).

The talk-show "Let them talk" (Pust govoryat) is rated best TV program for the second time (12%, in 2009 - 8%), followed by the popular "Wait for me" program (7%). Russians also mark "Vesti", "Novosti", "Let`s get married" (Davai pozhenimsya) (5% for each). 

Avatar is recognized to be the best movie of 2010 (8%). "Admiral" and "Brest Fortress" were also highly assessed (2% for each).

As to TV series, the first place is taken by "Capercaillie" (Glukhar) (9%). "Matchmakers" (Svaty) and "Escape" (Pobeg) were also mentioned among top favorite TV series (6% and 5% respectively).  

Philipp Kirkorov was named best singer of the year (8%), followed by Nikolay Baskov on the second place (7%) and Stas Mikhailov on the third place (6%).

For the fourth year in a row, Daria Donthova is ranked top one writer (8%), followed by Tatiana Ustinova on the second place and Boris Akunin on the third place (1% for each).

The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on 18-19 December, 2010. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.