MOSCOW, July 15, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data about Belarus and Russia: who benefits most from Russian-Belarusian union, where living standards are higher, and what Russians` attitudes towards providing material support to Belarus are.
Russians consider Russian-Belarusian unity to be profitable for countries - 40%, directly for Belarus - 39%, least profitable for Russia - 8%. Those who think that both countries will benefit are mostly Siberians (48%), Southerners and Urals residents (46% for each), residents of the Far East of Russia (44%) and CPRF party electorate (47%). Those who think the union is profitable, first of all, for Belarus, are mainly residents of North-Western Federal District (50%), respondents with high level of education (46%) and supporters of "United Russia" party (46%) and Democrats (44%). And finally, those respondents who have the least popular position which states that Russia benefits first are basically from the Far East (15%) and from the South of Russia (12%), as well as supporters of Democrats (11%).
Russians tend to think that the living standards in Russia and Belarus do not differ (32%). Most of those who think so are residents of big cities (37%). However, the difference between those who think that living standards are higher in Russia and those who think the same about Belarus is small - 23% and 26% respectively. Respondents with the former position are mostly Muscovites and St.Petersburgians (35%); those who have the latter position are residents of middle-sized cities (29%). It is interesting to know that respondents with high level of income tend to think that Russians live better than Belarusians (35%), while respondents with low level of income think that living standards in the union state are higher (30%).
A relative majority of Russians consider that material support to Belarus is justified because Russia gets a reliable and strong ally in the international arena in return (39%). Those who think so are basically supporters of such parties as "United Russia" and CPRF (43% and 44% respectively), as well as Southerners and Siberians (46% and 44% respectively). Twenty-six percent think that the feedback from Russian material support for Belarusian economy is not so huge compared with financial costs, thus financial support should be reduced. Such position is shared by Democrats (56%) and Urals residents (45%). And finally, a minority proposes to quit financial support for Belarus (19%); this point of view is widely held by the Volga District residents (23%). Older respondents tend to justify financial support for Belarus (43%); 18-24-year-old respondents advise to reduce financial aid; respondents aged 25-34 insist on quitting the financing (23%).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on June 20-21, 2009.
1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia.
The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
In your opinion, which country (Belarus or Russia) currently benefits from the creation of the Union State? | ||||||||
| Total respondents | Federal Districts* | ||||||
CFO | NWFD | SFD | PFD | UFD | SFD | DFD | ||
Belarus and Russia equally | 40 | 37 | 31 | 46 | 35 | 46 | 48 | 44 |
Belarus | 39 | 43 | 50 | 30 | 44 | 37 | 33 | 27 |
Russia | 8 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 15 |
Hard to tell | 13 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 16 | 9 | 14 | 14 |
Which country's living standards are higher - Belarus or Russia? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Type of settlement | ||||
Moscow & Saint Petersburg | More than 500thousand inhabitants | 100-500 thousand | Less than 100thousand | Rural area | ||
almost equal | 32 | 33 | 37 | 32 | 27 | 32 |
rather Belarusian | 26 | 21 | 24 | 29 | 27 | 26 |
rather Russian | 23 | 35 | 17 | 23 | 25 | 20 |
hard to tell | 19 | 11 | 22 | 16 | 20 | 21 |
Within the framework of the Union State and mutual friendly relations Russia has long been providing financial help for Belarusian economy. What do you think about that? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
|
| Supporters of political parties | ||||
| Total respondents | "United Russia" | CPRF | LDPR | "Fair Russia" | Democtrats ("Pravoe Delo"+Yabloko"
|
Providing financial help for Belarus Russia gets reliable and strong ally in the international arena instead; result is justified | 39 | 43 | 44 | 36 | 40 | 22 |
Feedback from financial support for Belarusian economy is small, disproportionately less than costs expended; amount of financial support should be reduced | 26 | 25 | 19 | 43 | 33 | 56 |
Providing financial help for Belarus Russia does not get any economic or political benefits in return; financial support for Belarus should be stopped | 19 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 13 | 17 |
hard to tell | 16 | 14 | 19 | 2 | 13 | 6 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or www.wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM,
the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!