The attitudes of Russians towards the Chechen leader have considerably increased over the recent years.
MOSCOW, February 20, 2016. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the results of the survey describing the Russian attitudes towards the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
The level of public awareness about Ramzan Kadyrov is high (89% of Russians heard of him); 62% know that he is the Chechen leader. Over the years, more Russians who heard of him have felt liking towards him (from 8% in 2007 to 16% in 2016), respect (from 11% to 31%) and trust (from 7% to 15%). The share of Russians who have negative emotions has not changed much: distrust (9%), dislikes (4%), condemnation (2%, etc. Respondents are more determined in their answers (the number of those who are indifferent has decreased from 34% to 24%, and those who failed to give answer – from 23% to 8%.
The Kadyrov activities aim at improving the well-being of the Chechen people (15%), developing Chechnya (8%), maintaining peace (9%), rather than pursuing personal enrichment (2%) or self-promotion (1%). However, many respondents (46%) fail to specify the purposes of his policies.
Kadyrov is perceived as an independent politician (60%); twice as many respondents oppose this opinion (29%). At the same time, respondents consider the Chechen leader as being a teammate of the Russian president (57%) or his subordinate (23%).
Every second respondent (49%) is confident that Kadyrov’s work brings more good to the country; 7 % oppose them; 26% believe that his activities can be treated both positively and negatively. But his political future is blurry (only 36% believe that he will have a promising political future). Thirty-four percent of respondents are confident that he has already achieved a lot but he hit the ceiling.
The Medialogia Company carried out an analysis of the mentions of Ramzan Kadyrov on the federal television and in print media; over the recent five years there have been more than 8 thousand publications in mass media. The mention peaks were in April 2013 (339 publications), December 2014 (474 publications) and October 2015 (312 publications). In April 2013, Ramzan Kadyrov commented on the Grozny City fire on his webpage: "The fire was the finger of God; we can do nothing against the God’s will”. The Chechnya leader posted two projects of the building restoration on the Instagram and proposed to vote for the best one. The media also reported that Kadyrov may be listed on the Magnitsky act. In December 2014, R. Kadyrov posted about the special operation in the Printing house in Grozny on his Instagram webpage. In October 2015, Kadyrov informed that all the crew members of the Mechanic Chebotarev tanker would be released. R. Kadyrov also declared that death penalty for terrorists should be introduced in Russia.
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on February 6-7, 2016. A total of 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 settlements in 46 regions and republics of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%. Russian media monitoring and analysis were carried out by the Medialogia Company using approximately 30 300 sources such as television, radio, newspapers, magazines. Period of study: January 2011 - December 2015.
Do you know anything about Ramzan Kadyrov? If yes, who is he and what do you know about him? (open-ended question, any number of answers; answers of at least 1% of respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Positive statements | |
Respectful/adequate/influential/active politician | 3 |
He stabilized the situation in Chechnya | 1 |
Fearless /determined person | 1 |
He provided a good living for his people | 1 |
Kind/ good person | 1 |
Negative statements | |
Former gunman/field commander/ he fought against Russia | 2 |
Neutral statements | |
Head of Chechnya | 62 |
Chechen | 2 |
He support the United Russia party/ he is Putin’s friend | 2 |
Son of Akhmat Kadyrov | 1 |
I heard his surname but I know nothing about his activities | 16 |
Other | 3 |
Don’t know | 4 |
I do not know who he is; this is the first time I hear about him | 11 |
What feelings does Ramzan Kadyrov evoke in you? (closed-ended question, not more than two answers, % of those who know anything about R. Kadyrov) | ||
| 2007 | 2016 |
Positive feelings | ||
Respect | 11 | 31 |
Liking | 8 | 16 |
Trust | 7 | 15 |
Hope | 17 | 5 |
Admiration | 1 | 4 |
Love | 0 | 0 |
Negative feelings | ||
|
|
|
Distrust | 9 | 9 |
Dislikes | 3 | 4 |
Condemnation | 1 | 2 |
Fear | - | 2 |
Hatred | 1 | 1 |
Disappointment | 1 | 1 |
Neutral feelings | ||
Indifference | 34 | 24 |
Don’t know | 23 | 8 |
In your opinion, what is R. Kadyrov pursuing in his policies? (open-ended question, % of those who know anything about R. Kadyrov; responses of at least 1% of respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Well-being/welfare of the Chechen people | 15 |
Absence of war/calmness/order | 9 |
Recovery/public amenities/Chechnya development | 8 |
Cooperation with Russia | 6 |
Fight for power/strengthening political power | 4 |
Supporting Putin, his policies | 4 |
Fight against terrorism | 2 |
Personal wealth accumulation | 2 |
Maintaining peace in Caucasus | 1 |
Entering the big political arena | 1 |
Receiving money from Russia | 1 |
Promoting Islam /Muslim unification | 1 |
To be a head of Chechnya after elections | 1 |
Unification of people | 1 |
Becoming Russia’s president | 1 |
Self-promotion | 1 |
Other | 1 |
Don’t know | 46 |
In your opinion, is Kadyrov an independent politician, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who know anything about R. Kadyrov) | |||||||
| Total respondents | A Just Russia party | Supporters of LDPR | Supporters of CPRF | Supporters of United Russia party | Supporters of non-parliamentary parties | I would not take part in elections |
Most likely an independent politician | 60 | 68 | 60 | 48 | 63 | 58 | 55 |
Most unlikely an independent politician | 29 | 22 | 32 | 38 | 26 | 32 | 35 |
Don’t know | 11 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 10 |
In your opinion, do the Kadyrov activities bring more good or harm to Russia today? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who know anything about R. Kadyrov) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St.Petersburg | Million cities | More than 500 ths | 100–500 ths | Less than 100 ths | Rural area |
More good | 49 | 57 | 50 | 45 | 46 | 52 | 57 |
Equally good and harm | 26 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 30 | 24 | 23 |
More harm | 7 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 10 |
Don’t know | 18 | 10 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 10 |
In your opinion, what political future will R. Kadyrov have? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who know anything about R. Kadyrov) | |||||
| Total respondents | Elementary (incomplete secondary) education | Secondary education (school, vocational school) | Specialized secondary education (technical school) | Incomplete higher (not less than three years in a higher education institute), higher education |
He has a bright political future | 36 | 40 | 34 | 38 | 34 |
He has achieved a lot; he can hardly achieve more | 34 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 42 |
He does not have a political future | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
Don’t know | 17 | 19 | 24 | 17 | 11 |
In your opinion, what type of relationships is between Vladimir Putin and Ramzan Kadyrov? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who know anything about R. Kadyrov) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and more |
Kadyrov is Putin’s subordinate; he works for him | 23 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 14 |
Kadyrov and Putin are allies; they work together | 57 | 55 | 52 | 55 | 57 | 64 |
Kadyrov works for himself; Putin has no power over him | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
Kadyrov and Putin are rivals; they work against each other | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Don’t know | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory. Full or partial reproduction of the Medialogia Company materials in other media must contain a reference to the Medialogia Company.