MOSCOW, March 13, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data on whether mass protests are possible in Russia, whether Russians are ready to take part in them and what Russians think about demonstrations in support or against anti-crisis measures taken by the Government.

Compared with January, the share of Russians who said mass protests against declining living standards are unlikely to happen has decreased from 64% to 60%. The share of such respondents is the highest among big cities residents (42%) and "Fair Russia" party supporters (35%).  29% or respondents think such actions are possible: most of them are residents of small towns and rural area inhabitants (67-69%), as well as supporters of democrats (67%). 11% were undecided.

If in January 70% of respondents were not ready to participate in mass protests against falling living standards, then now the share of such respondents makes up 66% (the similar figure was recorded in December 2008). Those who share this point of view are mostly capital residents (74%), Russians with high financial state self-esteem (73%), and CPRF party adherents (38%). On the contrary, every fifth (22%) are ready to join mass protests; most of them are residents of big and small cities (по 25%), and CPRF supporters (38%). The share of such respondents is growing up from 18% among Russians with high financial state self-esteem to 31% with low financial self-esteem.

One in ten (11%) is willing to take part in rallies to support anti-crisis measures by the Government; most of them are supporters of such parties as CPRF, LDPR and "Fair Russia"  (15-16%); the part of these respondents is increasing from 5% among capital residents to 13% among rural area citizens.  23%  report that they support such actions but they are not ready to participate; most of those who think so are "Fair Russia" supporters and democrats (28-29%), as well as big cities residents (30%). .Доля таких респондентов возрастает с 5% среди жителей столиц до 13% среди селян. 24% have a negative attitude towards such campaigns but they think that such actions should be held; those who said so are mainly "United Russia" (25%) and LDPR (24%) supporters, as well as rural area residents (30%). 7% consider that such rallies should be prohibited; the share of those who think so are the highest among democrats (11%). However, 24% of Russians are indifferent to rallies in support of anti-crisis measures; most of them are capital residents (40%) and LDPR adherents (31%). 12% were undecided.

On the contrary, every tenth (10%) think that rallies against anti-crisis measures taken by the Government should be prohibited; the share of such respondents are the highest among democrats` supporters, as well as supporters of "Fair Russia and "United Russia" parties (11-12%). Both capitals` residents share this stance (16%). However, the part of those ready to take part is 7%.  Most of them are CPRF and LDPR parties` supporters (12% for each). 16% of respondents support such actions, but are not ready to participate in them; most of them are big cities` residents, democrats and LDPR party supporters (22% and 21% respectively). 23% do not approve of such actions, but think that people have the right to participate; the share of such respondents is the highest among residents of middle cities (30%) and "Fair Russia" and "United Russia" adherents (24-25%). 19% were undecided.

Russians tend to think that anti-crisis meetings are useless (56%), rather than helping the country to find a way out of crisis (27%). The first point of view is mostly typical for "United Russia", LDPR parties and democrats` supporters (56% for each), the second one is held by "Fair Russia" and CPRF supporters (46% and 42% respectively).

Those Russians who are ready to participate in meetings are more likely to support anti-crisis measures made by the Government (44%), rather than against them (16%). At the same time 40% of potential participants of rallies are not interested at all if these rallies are "for" or "against" governmental anti-crisis measures.

The initiative Russian opinion poll was conducted on February 21-22 and February 28 - March 1, 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!