Results of our studies

25 August 2021. VCIOM presents the findings of a nationwide telephone–based survey and focus groups devote the V.Putin’s meeting with the United Russia party leadership on August 24.

VCIOM studied the public perceptions of the presidential speech at the United Russia party congress held on August 24th. The study encompassed a nationwide representative telephone survey and focus group discussions.

Most of focus group participants (79%) have favorable impressions of the presidential speech at the United Russia party congress on August 24th; 11% say their impressions were negative; 5% remained indifferent.

Most of focus group participants (79%) say it was interesting to listen to the presidential speech; 21% showed no interest.

A vast majority of focus group participants (87%) consider the topics touched upon by the president to be important and significant; 11% believe that only some part of the topics was significant; 2% say the topics discussed were hardly important. Two-thirds of focus group participants (64%) consider that V.Putin understands their problems; 24% oppose them.

Three-quarters of focus group participants (75%) think that V.Putin’s speech was honest and sincere; 12% doubt it.

Eighty-four percent of focus group participants consider that V.Putin stated his position clearly; 9% disagree with that.

Three-quarters of focus group participants (74%) consider that most of the tasks stated by the president will be solved to one degree or another; 24% do not think they will be solved.

Generally, Russians have positive perceptions of the presidential initiatives. The nationwide telephone-based survey shows that most of Russians supported the following proposals: one-time payment of 10 thousand rubles to retired persons, both working and non-working, (90%); creating job opportunities for disabled persons (89%); developing preventive health checks all across Russia to detect people who need timely healthcare services (89%); introduction of modern equipment and technologies at schools and  health institutions (87%); and building a system to support families with children under 16-17 y.o.(86%).

Seventy-seven percent of focus group participants experienced exclusively positive emotions while watching the V.Putin’s speech at the congress (hope — 70%, trust — 38%, respect — 36%); 18% had negative emotions.

Half of focus group participants (50%) changed their attitudes toward the United Russia party for the better; 43% did not change their views; 7% of respondents say their attitudes have deteriorated.

VCIOM conducted five focus groups on 24 August 2021 during the V. Putin’s speech at the United Russia party congress; focus groups were commissioned by the Expert Institute for Social Research (EISI). Focus groups took place in the administrative centers and million-plus cities in different subjects of the Russian Federation. A total of 76 respondents aged 18 and older took part in the focus groups.

Russian nationwide telephone survey was conducted on August 24, 2021, and commissioned by the Expert Institute for Social Research (EISI). A total of 1,200 respondents aged 18 and older took part in the survey.  Survey method: telephone-based interviews, stratified two-stage random sample of landline and mobile phone numbers from the full list of telephone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.8%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

VCIOM conducted nine focus groups on 23 August 2021 during the V. Putin’s speech at the United Russia party congress; focus groups were commissioned by the Expert Institute for Social Research (EISI). Focus groups took place in the administrative centers and million-plus cities in different subjects of the Russian Federation. A total of 62 respondents aged 18 and older took part in the focus groups.

What is your overall impression of the V.Putin’s speech?

(% of total test participants (who can vote for United Russia))

 

Total test participants

Completely positive

34

Likely  positive

45

Likely  negative

11

Completely negative

0

Indifferent

5

Don’t know

5

When you were watching the Putin’s speech at the United Russia party congress, were you interested in what V.Putin was speaking about, or not? (%  of total test participants (who can vote for United Russia))

 

Total test participants

The entire performance was interesting

49

The performance was mostly interesting  

30

Only a part of the performance was interesting

14

In general, the performance was hardly interesting

7

Don’t know

0

 

In your opinion, were the topic and problems that V.Putin touched upon in his speech important, significant for the country in general? (% of total test participants  (who can vote for United Russia))

 

Total test participants

All the topics were important, significant  

55

Most of the topics were  important, significant 

32

Only some part of the topics were  important, significant 

11

Insignificant, unimportant topics were touched upon

2

Based on what V.Putin spoke about, in your opinion, does he understand, or not, the problems of people like you?

(% of total test participants  (who can vote for United Russia))

 

Total test participants

He understands the problems of people like me 

64

He does not understand the problems of people like me 

24

Don’t know

12

 

Has your attitude towards the United Russia party changed after you watched the V.Putin’s speech at the party’s congress? If it has, in what way: has it improved or deteriorated? 

 (%  of total test participants (who can vote for United Russia))

 

Total test participants

Likely to have improved

50

Likely to have deteriorated

7

No change

43

In your opinion, was V.Putin honest, sincere or not honest, not sincere?

(% of total test participants  (who can vote for United Russia))

 

Total test participants

Likely honest, sincere

75

Unlikely honest, sincere

12

Don’t know

13

In your opinion, did V.Putin state his position clearly?

(% of total test participants  (who can vote for United Russia))

 

Total test participants

Likely clear

84

Unlikely clear

9

Don’t know

7

 

In your opinion, are the problems and tasks announced by the president at the party congress likely to be solved, or not?  (% of total test participants  (who can vote for United Russia))

 

Total test participants

Tasks will be solved to one degree or another   

74

Most of the problems and tasks will not be solved

24

Don’t know

2

What is your attitude towards the implementation of the following proposals, initiatives: positive, negative or indifferent?  (closed-ended question , one answer in each line, % of total respondents)  

All-Russian telephone survey data

 

Total respondents

One-time payment of an average of 15 (fifteen) thousand rubles to military personnel  and equal status persons

Likely positive

73

Likely negative

8

Likely indifferent

18

Don’t know

1

One-time payment of an average of 10 (ten)  thousand rubles  to retired persons, both working and non-working 

Likely positive

90

Likely negative

4

Likely indifferent

6

Don’t know

0

Developing national aircraft industry, designing a Russian medium-haul aircraft  to operate routes from Moscow to the Far East (by the example Sukhoi Superjet-100 short-haul aircraft)

Likely positive

68

Likely negative

4

Likely indifferent

25

Don’t know

3

Development of Siberia: new cities and new jobs

Likely positive

78

Likely negative

6

Likely indifferent

14

Don’t know

2

Not admitting militants coming from Afghanistan under the guise of refugees. Abandoning the idea to place  the Afghan refugees in the Central Asia countries Russia has no common boundaries with

Likely positive

69

Likely negative

14

Likely indifferent

11

Don’t know

6

Reducing the work load on teachers who have excessive reporting using digital technologies at school  

Likely positive

72

Likely negative

10

Likely indifferent

14

Don’t know

4

Creating framework for  training engineers not only in higher education institutions but also in colleges, vocational schools (launching new engineering schools for students)

Likely positive

82

Likely negative

6

Likely indifferent

11

Don’t know

1

Introduction of modern equipment and technologies at schools and health institutions

Likely positive

87

Likely negative

4

Likely indifferent

7

Don’t know

2

Developing preventive health screening across Russia to detect disorders among people who need timely medical care

Likely positive

89

Likely negative

4

Likely indifferent

7

Don’t know

0

Building a system supporting families with children under 16-17

Likely positive

86

Likely negative

3

Likely indifferent

9

Don’t know

2

Creating more effective and simpler access to social benefits for people, as well as the protection of social payments against automatic withdrawals by financial institutions

Likely positive

79

Likely negative

5

Likely indifferent

12

Don’t know

4

Creating job opportunities for persons with health disabilities

Likely positive

89

Likely negative

2

Likely indifferent

7

Don’t know

2

Suspension of regular inspection for small business in upcoming 2022

Likely positive

51

Likely negative

10

Likely indifferent

34

Don’t know

5

Modernizing  and  providing  people in rural areas with more Russian Post services, with options such as buying medicines or access to state services  

Likely positive

80

Likely negative

7

Likely indifferent

11

Don’t know

2

 

What emotions did the V. Putin’s speech at the United Russia party congress evoke in you?

(% of total test participants (who can vote for United Russia), not more than 3 responses)

August 23

 

Total test participants

Hope

77

Trust

38

Respect

36

Confidence in the future

33

Pride

21

Worry

11

Irritation

10

Indignation, discontent

5

Disappointment

3

Anxiety

3

Indifference

2

Other feelings

3