Russians started to forget the details about the Beslan tragedy: the number of those who are hard to answer the tragedy-related questions has increased.
MOSCOW, September 2, 2014. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the information concerning how many Russians remember the Beslan tragedy; how they assess the counter terrorism operation; what security measures are used in Russian schools today.
Ten years have passed since the Beslan school tragedy. The tragedy evoked a wide response in Russian society: today 94% are aware of what happened (56% know any details; 38% heard something but they do not know any details). The level of awareness among elderly respondents is higher (64% of those aged over 60) than among 18-24-year-olds (37%).
A relative majority of Russians (43%) consider that storming the building was inevitable; a lack of decisive action would have resulted in more victims. They are opposed by 16% of those who believe that the further negotiations could have saved lives of the remaining hostages (27% of those who disprove of the presidential work; 22% of those aged over 60). Over the years this event has increasingly been forgotten: in the previous five years the share of those who do not remember the details has grown from 20% in 2009 to 32% in 2014.
According to every third Russian (31%), the rescue operation was successful and was performed at a high level (to compare: in 2009 this share made up 36%). Those who provide a detailed assessment are respondents with higher education diplomas (35%) rather than respondents with elementary education (27%). At the same time, every fifth Russian (21%), opposes them stating that Russian special services were lacking coordination, and the counter terrorism operation was a failure. Thirty-six of respondents could not mention any details.
Those who are to blame are Federal Security Service and special agencies` officers (34%), Ministry of Internal Affairs (21%) and local authorities (19%). Eighteen percent of respondents blame only terrorists. The share of those who blame Russian government has considerably decreased (from 23% in 2004 to 15% in 2014). Russians rarely blame local community that were not vigilant enough (5%).
As to security measures applied in Russian schools, respondents cite the presence of the security guards at the entrance (71%), a fence around the school (47%), and surveillance system (36%). Thirty-five percent of respondents say that the entrance is allowed only for students and teachers. Twenty-seven percent cite a panic button (27%) and entry turnstiles (22%). Only 10% mentioned metal detectors.
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on August 23-24, 2014. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. Data are weighted by gender, age, education, working status and type of settlement. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
Ten years ago there was a terrorist attack in a school in Beslan. Do you know/have you heard/ do you hear for the first time about that? (closed-ended questions, one answer) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 + |
I am well aware about that | 56 | 37 | 52 | 59 | 61 | 64 |
I heard something but I do not know any details | 38 | 47 | 45 | 36 | 36 | 30 |
I hear about that for the first time | 4 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Don`t know | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
In your opinion, was it possible to avoid the storming of the building? (closed-ended questions, one answer) | ||
| 2009 | 2014 |
The storming was inevitable; the terrorists were absolutely aggressive; | 50 | 43 |
The storming could have been avoided; | 19 | 16 |
I do not remember this situation in details | 20 | 32 |
Don`t know | 11 | 9 |
How would you assess today this counter terrorism operation? (closed-ended questions, one answer) | ||
| 2009 | 2014 |
Hostage rescue operation was successful; | 36 | 31 |
Hostage rescue operation failed; | 24 | 21 |
I do not remember this situation in details | 28 | 36 |
Don`t know | 13 | 12 |
In your opinion, who is to blame for the failure to prevent the terrorist attack? (closed-ended questions, not more than two answers) | ||
| 2004 | 2014 |
Federal Security Service and special agencies | 39 | 34 |
Ministry of Internal Affairs | 24 | 21 |
Regional and local authorities | 18 | 19 |
No one; terrorists | - | 18 |
Government | 23 | 15 |
President | 13 | 9 |
Ministry of Defense | 9 | 8 |
People who were not vigilant enough | 8 | 5 |
Other | - | 1 |
Don`t know | 10 | 10 |
What security measures are now being taken at the school where your (closed-ended questions, any number of answers ) | |||||||
| Total | Moscow and St.Petersburg | Million cities | More than 500 ths | 100–500 ths | Less than 100 ths | Rural area |
School entrance guard | 71 | 76 | 70 | 86 | 68 | 76 | 62 |
Fence | 47 | 74 | 50 | 49 | 48 | 49 | 35 |
Surveillance system | 36 | 68 | 40 | 51 | 36 | 32 | 21 |
Entry is forbidden to | 35 | 44 | 35 | 60 | 40 | 29 | 23 |
A panic button | 27 | 35 | 33 | 30 | 23 | 38 | 14 |
Turnstiles and pass | 22 | 24 | 30 | 35 | 27 | 18 | 13 |
Metal detector | 10 | 18 | 13 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 6 |
Other | 2 | ‹1 | 3 | ‹1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Don`t know | 9 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 18 |
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!