MOSCOW, February 19, 2008 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information on whether Russians trust foreign observers, coming to our country for the elections.

In September, 2007, before the elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation, equal shares of Russians were willing to trust statements concerning the election results made by the Central Election Committee and the Russian election observers from public organizations (23% for each of the options). The share of those who would rather trust the Central Election Committee has increased by 5% after parliamentary elections, the share of those who will believe independent election observers has simultaneously decreased by the same 5%. 6-7% of respondents are the ones who invariably trust observers from political parties taking part in the elections, as well as sociologists, 4% believe observers from OSCE and the United Nations, and no more than 2% trust the observers from CIS.

Every third respondent (32%) among those approving of V. Putin’s political activity as President of the Russian Federation will primarily trust the Central Election Committee. Among those who do not approve of the work done by the head of state (these only account for 10% of Russians), no more than 12% believe the Central Election Committee, and 17% would rather give preference to Russian independent observers.

Russians provide a neutrally positive estimation of the presence of the foreign election observers at the elections in our country. Some of the respondents tend to think that it will help fair counting of voices (31% of respondents share this viewpoint) and a calm and „civilized” course of the election campaign (26%). There is also a point of view, that the presence of election observers will not affect anything (22%). Less widespread are critical opinions assuming that the presence of the foreign observers not only distracts the election organizers from their immediate duties (7%), but is also beneficial to the Western opponents of Russia (the share of respondents in support of this assertion has reduced from 14% down to 10% during the last nine months).

The initiative all-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM on January  19-20, 2007. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%