MOSCOW, July 22, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing whether Russians are aware of the visit of Barack Obama to Russia, how they estimate the results of the visit, and what impact it will have on Russian-American relations.

A majority of Russians are aware of the recent visit of Barack Obama to Russia (85%): 46% are well aware, 39% - heard something about it. Awareness is mostly shown by supporters of CPRF party (92%), metropolitan residents (92%) and Russians aged above 45 (89%). Only 12% of respondents first heard from interviewers about Obama`s visit; most of them are "Yabloko", "Pravoe Delo" and "Patriots of Russia" parties` electorate (23%), inhabitants of small cities (22%) and those aged 18-24 (18%). 

In general, our fellow citizens positively assess the outcome of Obama`s visit to Russia: 34% think the visit was effective and useful for both parties; other 37% report the meeting was good, and the majority of problems between the United States and Russia was solved. Only 8% are confident that Obama`s visit was useless and ineffective.

Those who think that the visit was effective are mainly supporters of "United Russia" (40%), "Fair Russia" (38%) parties, rural area citizens (37%) and respondents with low level of education (37%). Those who think that the leaders did not manage to solve all problems are basically supporters of such parties as LDPR (46%), "Yabloko", "Pravoe Delo", "Patriots of Russia" (43%), residents of middle-sized cities (44%), and respondents with a level of education above secondary special (38-39%). And finally, those who think the visit was useless are generally adherents of CPRF (14%), election absentees (17%), inhabitants of small cities (43%) and Russians with high level of education (11%).

Improvement in U.S.-Russia relations is the main result of Obama`s visit, - 11% of Russians think.  Eight percent of respondents think that the leaders reached an understanding on disarmament issues; 6% think that it was a visit of courtesy and a reason to get to know Dmitry Medvedev. Three percent of respondents think the two leaders signed important documents; 2% (for each) report that the presidents signed an agreement on joint efforts to tackle the crisis, and on further cooperation including economic cooperation and peaceful coexistence. Russians also think that Obama demonstrated dominance over Russia again (1%). Among other results of the meeting respondents mentioned the following ones: agreements on joint anti-terrorism measures, agreements on the transit of American cargoes in Afghanistan, and discussions of the controversial issues on U.S. missile defense shield system in Europe (1% for each). Nevertheless, 3% of respondents think that there are lots of issues yet to be solved; and 1% thinks that it is too early to make conclusions.  More than half of respondents were undecided (58%).

More than half of Russians are confident that Obama's visit will have positive impact on Russian-American relations - 54% think that relations will get better and become warmer. Those who have such opinion are mainly supporters of "United Russia", "Yabloko", "Pravoe "Pravoe Delo" and "Patriots of Russia" parties (up to 61%), as well as inhabitants of middle-sized cities and rural area  (58% and 60% respectively) and respondents with low level of income (60%). Every third (34%) consider that the visit of the American president will not influence the relationship between the two countries - they are mostly supporters of CPRF party (51%), residents of small cities (71%) and respondents with low level of income (36%). Only 1% thinks that the visit of Barack Obama to Russia will have negative impact on Russian-American relations.

The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on July 18-19, 2009. 

1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia.

The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

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!