MOSCOW, February 08, 2008 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information on what Russians think about the Central Election Committee’s refusal to register Mikhail Kasyanov as presidential contender and what number of contenders they consider to be sufficient for normal elections.

Two thirds of respondents are informed of the fact that M. Kasyanov was refused to be registered as a contender for President of the Russian Federation, this includes 23% who think that they know a lot on the issue and 42% who “have heard something about it”. As it often happens, the older generation is more politically aware of the topic than the younger one: less than half of respondents (44%) know about the refusal to register M. Kasyanov; whereas three thirds of respondents aged 60 years and older do (74%).

The majority of respondents (60%) find it hard to provide reasons why the Central Election Committee refused to register M. Kasyanov. The most popular explanation is that the number of invalid signatures in his lists of support exceeds the norm (this answer is provided by 29% of respondents). Another 6% suspect, that this politician is involved in corrupt activities, 3% refer to an assertion that he does not enjoy enough trust on the part of the population. 1% for each option associate the refusal in registration with the fact that the former prime minister is not pleasing to V. Putin, or consider Kasyanov to be a strong contender, capable to stand in D. Medvedev’s way.

6% of Russians assume that without Kasyanov elections cannot be fair or free. The majority (68%) of respondents, however, do not believe that the purity of elections depends on his taking or not taking part in them. Every fourth respondent (26%) finds it hard to provide estimation on the issue.

The initiative all-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM on February 2-3, 2008. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%