More Russians feel the effects of the anti-Russian sanctions as they hit Russian pockets.
MOSCOW, March 4, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of the survey devoted to the attitudes of Russians towards anti-Russian sanctions imposed by western countries and to the question whether they feel the effects of the sanctions.
Every second Russian (51%) is aware of sanctions imposed by western countries. Most of Russians are well informed about the restrictions on import/export of certain goods (46% of those who are aware of sanctions). Many Russians cite entry ban for certain officials, businessmen and other persons (26%) and economic sanctions (21%).
Thirty-three percent of Russians who are aware of sanctions believe that the sanctions were supposed to lead Russia to an economic crisis (there were no such persons in August 2014). Every fifth thinks that sanctions were aimed at weakening the Russia`s position in the international arena (22%) or oppressing Russia (20%).
Over half a year the share of Russians who mention negative effects of sanctions has increased from 15% to 57%. Only 18% of Russians notice improvements (15% in August 2014). The share of those who see no changes has considerably decreased (from 62% to 19%).
Since the first wave of the anti-Russian sanctions, more Russians have felt their effects: whereas in August 2014 the share of such respondents made up 5%, today this part is equal to 45%. The basic complain refer to the price increase and worsening financial situation (85%). Fifty percent of respondents mention no changes .
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on February 14-15, 2015. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 132 communities in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.
Amid the Ukrainian conflict, several countries imposed sanctions against Russia. Do you know/have you heard about any sanctions against Russia, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer) | |||
| August 2014 | February 2015 | |
Yes, I know/heard | 43 | 51 | |
I do not know anything | 14 | 2 | |
Don`t know | 44 | 47 | |
If you know about sanctions, name any of them. (open-ended question, any number of answers% of those who are aware of sanctions) | ||
| August 2014 | February 2015 |
Ban on import/export of certain goods | 24 | 46 |
Entry ban on certain persons | 44 | 26 |
Economic sanctions: bank sector, seizure of foreign accounts, prohibition of lending abroad | 37 | 21 |
Ban on importing equipment/repair parts | 5 | 9 |
Freezing of joint projects / companies operating abroad | 8 | 7 |
Sanctions in gas and oil sector | - | 5 |
Stopping cooperation in military industry | 6 | 3 |
Euro and dollar exchange rate increase/ ruble drop, price increase | - | 2 |
Diplomatic sanctions | - | 2 |
Suspension of the Dobrolet company operations / problems in air transportation cooperation | 5 | 1 |
I heard something but I do not know any details | - | 8 |
Other | 5 | 6 |
In your opinion, what did the western countries want to achieve by imposing anti-Russian sanctions? (open-ended question, any number of Russians, % of those who are aware of sanctions) | ||
| August 2014 * | February 2015 |
To lead Russia to an economic crisis | - | 33 |
To weaken Russia and to slow its growth globally | 32 | 22 |
They try to prove their importance, try to weaken Russia and oppress it | 13 | 20 |
Provocation to make Russia enter a war, to exacerbate the conflict | 4 | 3 |
To cause civil unrest | - | 3 |
To make Russia stop supporting DPR and LPR | 5 | 3 |
Leaders of these countries are led by the nose by the United States | 14 | 2 |
To make Russia give Crimea back , to punish Russia for Crimea | 5 | 2 |
To punish Russia for its foreign policies | 6 | 2 |
These countries have their own benefits | - | 1 |
Just out of spite | 4 | 1 |
To conquer Russia | 1 | <1 |
Good intentions | - | <1 |
Other | 4 | 1 |
Don`t know | 19 | 13 |
*In August 2014 the question was as follows: “In your opinion, what are the countries imposing sanctions against Russia pursuing?”
In your opinion, what effects have the sanctions had on Russia? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who are aware of sanctions) | ||
| August 2014 | February 2015 |
Negative effects; the situation in the country has deteriorated | 15 | 57 |
Positive effects; the situation in the country has improved | 15 | 18 |
No effects; no changes | 62 | 19 |
Don`t know | 7 | 6 |
Have you personally/your relatives experienced any effects of sanctions? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who are aware of sanctions) | |||
| August 2014 | February 2015 | |
Yes | 5 | 45 | |
No | 92 | 50 | |
Don`t know | 3 | 5 | |
If you have experienced any effects of sanctions, can you mention them? (open-ended question, ,any number of answers, % of those who are aware of sanctions and have experienced them personally) | ||
| August 2014 | February 2015 |
Price increase, deterioration of financial situation | 77 | 85 |
Redundancies, decreased/delayed salary payments | - | 8 |
Euro and dollar exchange rate increase | - | 5 |
Many goods disappeared | - | 4 |
Increase of loan interest rates/mortgage rates | - | 2 |
Problems in business | - | 1 |
Account freeze, card locking | 3 | 1 |
Recession in national economy | - | 1 |
Development of national economy | 3 | - |
Dobrolet air company flights` cancellation | 6 | - |
Foreign company job loss | 6 | - |
Other | 17 | 3 |
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