MOSCOW, November 7, 2007 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information concerning how possible protest actions are in the country according to the Russians' estimations.

The protest potential of Russians was at its highest at the beginning of 2005 if compared with the level of the last few years when, in connection with the monetization of benefits, half of respondents considered it possible that riots might occur against the drop of the living standards and for the protection of their own rights in their city or area. After that the protest potential of the population has consistently decreased. Its minimum happened to be in March this year when 26% of respondents considered mass riots to be possible, whereas the majority (67%) considered them to be unlikely. The share of respondents considering mass actions quite probable has totalled 30% in October this year; the number of respondents who do not find them quite possible amounted to 57%.

The point of view that mass protests are quite possible is least of all characteristic of the residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg (21%); such ideas are most widespread in other large industrial cities of the country (42%).

The share of Russians declaring that they personally are willing to participate in protest actions has reached its maximal value in March 2006 when it amounted to 35%; however, it has decreased to total 24% by December of that same year, in March this year it has further decreased to total 22%; and now accounts for 24%.

The idea to personally participate in mass protests is less popular in Moscow and St. Petersburg (9%), than in other cities (21-24%) or, especially, in the countryside (31%).

The All-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM in October 20-21, 2007. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.