Whether you are “for” or “against” Crimea, your right to speak out is above all for most of Russians.
MOSCOW, April 17, 2014. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the information concerning how Russians treat those who do not agree with the accession of Crimea.
State and society should not condemn people who disapprove of the idea of the Crimean accession; more than half of Russians think so (59%). They are mainly residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg (66%), rather than residents of middle cities (52%).
One-quarter of respondents (25%) oppose them stating that such behavior should be punished. Fifteen percent of such respondents say that people who oppose the accession of Crimea must be criticized. Most of those who think so are CPRF adherents (22%). Five percent of respondents propose penalties for those who disagree with the prevailing opinion. Other 5% think that criminal penalties must be applied.
According to Russians, people who disagree with the official position of Russia on Crimea can express their opinion through mass media (newspapers, television, radio - 36%) or through the Internet (35%). Those who think so are mainly residents of Moscow and St.Petersburg (49% and 51%, respectively). Every fourth Russian (25%) sees nothing wrong if people have their say through rallies and demonstrations. They can also use flyers, brochures et cet. to express their point of view; this idea it supported by 15% of respondents. Remarkably, one-fifth or respondents (22%) are confident that position that runs counter to the official one must be discussed only with relatives and friends.
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on March 22-23, 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%.
Not all Russians approve of the accession of Crimea. Some people think that such people must be regarded as traitors; others consider them as strong persons who are not afraid of having position that runs counter to the prevailing opinion. In your opinion, should state and society respond to these persons? (closed-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and above |
State and society should not interfere; each person must decide for himself/herself | 59 | 58 | 63 | 58 | 57 | 58 |
Such behavior must be publicly dispraised | 15 | 17 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 19 |
Such behavior must be fined | 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
Criminal penalty must be applied | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
Other | 2 | <1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Don`t know | 14 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 13 |
In your opinion, should people who disapprove of the official position of Russian authorities on Crimea publicly express and discuss their point of view, or not? (closed-ended question, any number of answers) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St. Petersburg | Million cities | More than 500 ths | 100–500 ths | Less than 100 ths | Rural area |
Yes, through newspapers, television, radio | 36 | 49 | 24 | 47 | 32 | 34 | 35 |
Yes, through the Internet, social media, site comments | 35 | 51 | 25 | 32 | 38 | 38 | 28 |
Yes, through rallies, demonstrations | 25 | 28 | 26 | 30 | 21 | 27 | 22 |
Yes, through billborards, flyers, et cet | 15 | 23 | 13 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 12 |
Yes, other means of expressing their attitudes | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 3 |
No, position that runs counter to the official one should not be publicly discussed, except for private conversations with friends and relatives | 22 | 17 | 28 | 17 | 25 | 16 | 26 |
Don`t know | 12 | 8 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 11 |
In your opinion, should people who disapprove of the official position of Russian authorities on Crimea publicly express and discuss their point, or not? (closed-ended question, any number of answers) | |||||
| Total respondents | Elementary (incomplete secondary) education | Secondary education (school, vocational school) | Specialized secondary education (technical school) | Incomplete higher (not less than three years in a higher education institute), higher education |
Yes, through newspapers, television, radio | 36 | 29 | 35 | 35 | 38 |
Yes, through the Internet, social media, site comments | 35 | 26 | 34 | 35 | 37 |
Yes, through rallies, demonstrations | 25 | 16 | 25 | 26 | 25 |
Yes, through billborards, flyers, et cet | 15 | 7 | 13 | 16 | 16 |
Yes, other means of expressing their attitudes | 4 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
No, position that runs counter to the official one should not be publicly discussed, except for private conversations with friends and relatives | 22 | 32 | 24 | 20 | 21 |
Don`t know | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 10 |
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!