The June 12^th is gradually taking root in the public mind, but an overwhelming majority of Russians still treat it as an extra day off.  

MOSCOW, June 11, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of the survey concerning the following questions: whether Russians know what is celebrated on June 12^th; what this day is related to; and how they perceive this holiday.     

Generally, Russians are aware of what is celebrated on June 12^th. Thirty-nine percent give precise name to this holiday - “Russia`s Day” (52% of residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg); remarkably, since 2009 this share has considerably increased (from 29%). Twenty-five percent of Russians remember its unofficial name “Russia`s Independence Day”. Wrong answers involve «Day of Constitution” (4%), “Day of People`s Unity” (2%) et cet. Every fourth (25%) did not try to guess and did not answer the question. At the same time, three-quarters of Russians (77%) are hard to precise what the June 12<sup>th</sup> holiday is about. One-tenth of Russians (8%) say that on this day Russian Declaration of Independence was adopted; 4% say that the country`s sovereignty was declared.

Russians assess the adoption of the Russia's Declaration of Sovereignty (RSFSR) more positively than it was ten years ago. Whereas in 2005 only 26% of Russians treated the Russia`s Day as a holiday, today this share makes up 43% including 27% of those who agree that since that day Russia has taken the road of democracy and market economy and 16% of those who say that Russia got rid of providing economic assistance to the soviet republics.

Interestingly, as before 11% of respondents (both in 2005 and in 2015) say that this day is tragic for them because a quarter of a century ago this day was a symbol of the collapse of the USSR. Those who think so are mainly supporters of CPRF (29%) and elderly respondents (20% aged above 60). About one-quarter of Russians (28%) are neutral; they think that this day is an extra day off.

Seventy-one percent of Russians are confident that the Russia`s Day should be official day off. They are opposed by 20% of those who believe that this day should be regular working day. Twenty-five percent of Russians do not have any special point of view. Thirty percent of respondents think it is unnecessary to hold any official celebrations. Those who think that this holiday should be celebrated do not know what activities should be organized (11%). Eight percent propose to hold mass celebrations; 5% - rallies and demonstrations; 4% - concerts, etc.

The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted May 23-24, 2015; 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities 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!