MOSCOW, March 15, 2010. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning the opinion of Russians about perestroika nowadays.

The majority of Russians still think that perestroika brought to our country more negative results but since 2002 the amount of those who support this point of view decreased from 63 to 53%. 26% of respondents declare that reforms during perestroika had generally positive effect (in 2002 - 20%). The meaning of reforms is described negatively mainly by supporters of Communist Party (76%), rarely by supporters of United Russia (46%).

In more negative view the consequences of perestroika are seen by the inhabitants of Central and North-Western districts (60 and 59%). To a lesser degree it's peculiar to respondents from Urals (36%).

The older Russians are the more frequent they suppose that from historical view perestroika gave more negative (67% of respondents older 60 years versus 30% of 18-24-aged people). On the contrary, the younger our citizens are the higher level of reforms' supporters is (18% versus 34%).

After 15 years the opinion of our fellow-citizens about perestroika generally didn't change: as before the dominating opinion is that Russia needed reforms but they were conducted unclever and unskillful (48%). This thought is more peculiar to the inhabitants of North-Western and Siberian districts (54 and 55%) and Russians of 35-59 years old (53-56%). The second popular point of view comes to the fact that all the reforms initially were an erroneous idea (24%) - it is peculiar to the inhabitants of Central district (31%) and elder people (33%). Those who find perestroika necessary and correct step (16%) are in the minority, most of them are in Urals (25%) and among Russians younger than 34 years (20-21%).

The higher level of education the more often they consider perestroika to be necessary but poorly thought-out step (38% of poor educated Russians versus 53% of high educated) or absolutely right decision (6% versus 18%). On the contrary poor educated people believe that reforms were a mistake (36% versus 21% of high educated respondents).

The initiative Russian opinion poll was conducted on March 13-14, 2010. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4 %.

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