MOSCOW, May, 21, 2007. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) submits information concerning thoughts of Russians about overcoming poverty in our country.

Lowering the level of poverty in Russia by half in a short term is impossible to achieve, as the majority of respondents (61%) think. Only 26% believe it actually can be done. In comparison to 2004, the part of pessimists has slightly declined (from 66% down to 61%).

The most optimistic ones are the supporters of Uniform Russia party (33%) and Fair Russia party (31%). The supporters of CPRF doubt the possibility of reaching this goal the most (75% doubt and only 14% believe in such possibility).

Poor financial status does not add any optimistic moods to respondents' attitudes. Only 15% of respondents of that category find cutting down poverty in half realistic. The other 74% think it is impossible. In comparison to that category, those who identify themselves as well-to-do ones are more optimistic (38%) rather than pessimistic (53%).

Those respondents who find the stated goal achievable connect their optimism primarily with lowering the level of unemployment in the country (24%), with general increase of life quality (17%), with country economy developing (12%), with the fact that Russia is a rich country with vast natural resources (9%); with aid of national projects (8%).

Similar arguments are called by those respondents who do not find the idea of lowering the level of poverty in half realistic. Except they use those arguments negatively. Thus, the cons of achieving the goal these respondents identify are decrease of the life quality (23%), unemployment (14%), economy collapse (13%), authorities' indifference (12%), lots of poor (10%), inflation, price increase (10%), corruption and lawlessness (6%). Some (5%) think the goal is not achievable because people do not want to do anything about poverty.

Russians do not estimate government actions dealing with poverty highly. Only 17% of respondents think that the government has already solved the problem of lowering poverty in half. The majority of respondents though say this problem is not solved yet. This point of view is most popular among those who identify themselves as poor (87%). This point is supported by 63% of well-to-do respondents.

All-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM, April, 21-22, 2007. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 153 population centers of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.