Russians think that politics is a dirty business, but the lack of interest toward politics among Russians is caused by other reasons.

MOSCOW, April 11, 2011. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing how actively and in which forms Russians participate in socio-political life of the country; why some of them ignore this sphere and what Russians think about the moral side of political activity.

Less Russians are interested in socio-political life of the country. The highest scores in socio-political activity of Russians were recorded in 2004 and 2007; only one-third of respondents did not take part in socio-political life (32 and 39% respectively). The most passive behavior is expressed currently: two-thirds of respondents ignore socio-political life of the country (61%).

The activity of the rest of respondents is reduced to the participation in elections (27%). The most popular elections were the 2004 presidential elections (55%).

Those who somehow participate in this sphere often report that they participate in public improvement (8%, three years ago - 15%). Other 4% took part in collecting items and money for those in trouble; those who participated in collecting signatures before elections and the work of local committee are 2% (for each group).

The main reasons why Russians ignore socio-political life have not changed over the recent four years. Whereas earlier respondents complained about the usefulness of participation (29%) and lack of qualification (27%), then now they report the lack of interest in political life in principle (36%). This is followed by the wasted efforts (25%) on the second place, and the lack of qualification and opportunities to take active part in political life (18-19%) on the third place.

Rarer Russians report lack of socio-political organizations they favor (7%), lack of respectable leaders (5%), their confidence that the president can tackle everything on his own (4 versus 10% in 2007), confidence that the politics is a dirty business (2 versus 6%).

There is a common view among Russians that the politics is a dirty business, and there are no people with high moral values in politics (58%). This statement is shared by absentees (74%), respondents aged 35-59 (62% for each), and those who have education above secondary level (59-61%), active internet users (62%), and those who think that the current political life of the country is less interesting (69%).

One-third of Russians oppose this statement (30%). Most of them are partisans of such parties as LDPR, United Russian  and Fair Russia (35-36%), young and retired persons, Russians with low level of education (34% or each), those who do not use Internet (32%), as well as those who think that the current political life of the country is more interesting than it was before (42%).

The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on 12-13 March, 2011. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

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!