Russia should cooperate more closely with the members of the BRICS members and the Eurasian Economic Union rather than with the NATO and PACE countries.

MOSCOW, June 21, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of the survey devoted to the international organizations that Russians consider the most powerful; what organizations they favor; and with what organizations they think Russia should develop cooperation.

The G8/G7 and the World Trade Organization are regarded to be the most influential international organizations (46% and 44%, respectively). At the same time, the G20 is less important; it is cited by 37% of respondents. As to Council of Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), 38% treat this organization as an important actor and 32% oppose them. Thirty-eight percent of Russians think that the BRICS nations play an important role in the international arena; 29% do not agree with them.

However, Russians appreciate more a union including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South African Republic; 53% of Russians perceive the BRICS positively. Fifty-four percent of Russians support the idea to promote and strengthen the cooperation with the BRICS nations.

Russians perceive the G20 ambiguously: 29% of positive and 27% of negative assessments. The G8/G7 and the WTO are most likely treated in a negative way: more than one-third of respondents have negative opinions (37%, for each group). The most disfavored organization is the Council of Europe (46% of negative and 17% of positive assessments). Expectedly, Russians are unlikely to perceive this organization as Russia’s partner and ally: only 19% believe that Russia should develop cooperation with this organization.

One-third of respondents think that Russia should strengthen ties with the Eurasian Economic Union (36%); one-third are in favor of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (29%), WTO (26%), G20 (26%) and G8/G7 (23%). Finally, least trusted organization is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) – only 11% of respondents say that Russia should develop relations with this organization.

The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted February 7-8, 2015; 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 settlements in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.

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!