The positions of the South Kuril residents coincide: the Kuril Islands are part of Russia
MOSCOW, January 19, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study devoted to the attitudes of the Kuril residents towards Japan's claims to the South islands of the Kuril chain.
An overwhelming majority of the Kuril residents (98%) are aware that Japan seeks return of the South Kuril Islands.
The position of the South Kuril inhabitants is unambiguous: 96% of respondents believe that Russia should not return the South islands to Japan.
The survey results are not contradictory; the opinions of the Kuril residents are consistent with the results of the previous survey conducted by VCIOM in January 2019.
Remarkably, inhabitants of different Kuril islands express similar opinions on the Kuril issue (the opinion that Russia should not return the islands is shared by 97% of Iturup residents, 96% of Kunashir residents and 92% of Shikotan residents); and there is no age dependency (opinions in different age groups fluctuate between 94% and 97%).
House-to-house poll was conducted by VCIOM from February 11th through February 17th, 2019. The survey involved the residents of the South Kurils aged 18 and over. A total of 7,695 respondents were interviewed (two thirds of the Southern Kuril population of 11,347 aged over 18, based on the Sakhalin Election Commission data of 09.09.2018).
Are you aware that Japan seeks return of the disputed South Kurils? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Yes, I am aware | 98 |
NO, I am not aware | 1 |
Don’t know | 1 |
In your opinion, should Russia transfer the South Kuril islands to Japan? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||
| Total respondents | Iturup Island residents | Kunashir Island residents | Shikotan Island residents |
Yes | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
No | 96 | 97 | 96 | 92 |
Don’t know | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
In your opinion, should Russia transfer the South Kuril islands to Japan? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | 60 and over |
Yes | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
No | 96 | 95 | 97 | 97 | 95 | 94 |
Don’t know | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
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