Only 14% of Russians believe that the European Union should refuse to take Middle East refugees.
MOSCOW, October 27, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the data of the survey describing the Russian opinions concerning the following questions: what Europe should do regarding the refugees from the Middle East; whether the refugees may enter the Russian territory, or not.
Most of respondents think that the displaced persons need to be helped. The best way for the European countries to help them is to provide them with housing and essential supplies for a certain period of time; but after the end of military actions the refugees must be sent back (60%). Most of those who think so are residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg (69%).
Seven percent agree that migrants must be provided with everything they need, but after that they need to be sent beyond the territory of the European Union. Only 9% of respondents consider it is right to let the refugees stay in Europe. The number of those who propose radical measures such as closing European internal borders is 14% (23% of those with low level of education; 29% of those who disapprove of the work of president).
Fifty-eight percent of Russians think that the refugees may enter Russia; 13 % think it is inevitable. Twenty-four percent of Russians believe that migrant flows will never be redirected to Russia (32% of Muscovites and Petersburgers and 29% of respondents with high level of income against 21% of rural area residents and 21% of those with low level of income).
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on October 10-11, 2015; 1600 respondents were interviewed in 132 settlements in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.
In your opinion, what should the European Union do regarding the Middle East displaced persons? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St.Petersburg | Million cities | More than 500 ths | 100–500 ths | Less than 100 ths | Rural area |
To provide them with everything they need and create conditions for permanent residence in Europe | 9 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 8 |
To provide them with everything they need for a certain period of time until the end of the Middle East military conflict and send them back | 60 | 69 | 61 | 65 | 55 | 60 | 59 |
To provide them with everything they need but not allowing them to stay on the EU territory (redirecting them to other countries; acting as a transit zone) | 7 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 6 |
To close the borders not letting them enter the EU territory | 14 | 9 | 17 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
Don`t know | 10 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 |
In your opinion, may the Middle East refugees come not only to European Union but also to Russia due to the Middle East military conflict? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||
| 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 | |
Hardly possible | 24 | 20 | 21 | 25 | 24 | |
Possible | 58 | 45 | 60 | 54 | 65 | |
Inevitable | 13 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 9 | |
Don`t know | 5 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 2 | |
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!