As Ukrainians, Russians enter the new year feeling joy.
MOSCOW, December 24, 2012. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the information concerning how Russians assess the year 2012, as well as what they expect from the year 2013; what events they believe were the most significant; who were top figures of 2012 in politics, sports and art. The results of the study conducted by Research & Branding Group in Ukraine are also provided.
New Year: assessments and expectations
Most of Russians see off the old year and welcome the new year feeling no any enthusiasm, though with no negative emotions (54%), as well as Ukrainians (55%). Every third is optimistic (34%, Ukraine - 30%).
According to 55% of Russians, the year 2012 was good for them and their families, but the year was difficult for the country in general (56%). As to expectations, Russians believe that the year 2013 will be good for them and their families (59%), as well as for the country (59%).
On the eve of the new year Russians feel joy (35%), tranquility and confidence (23%). The shares of those who feel tired (16%), excited (15%), sad (9%), or disappointed (8%) are slightly smaller. Ukrainians also feel joy (33%), confidence (15%), excitement (10%) and exhaustion (6%).
Plans for Dec. 31
As usual, most of Russians (73%) and Ukrainians (70%) are celebrating the New Year staying home in their families (73%). The number of those who are going to visit friends is lower (16% among Russians, 11% among Ukrainians), let alone such places as restaurants, dachas or countryside.
Key events 2012
The top event that Russians are still excited about is presidential elections (18% of all the references about the key events of the year). The second place is taken by the Kuban flow (15%), the London Olympics (15%), and corruption scandals (15%).
The key events in Ukraine are recognized to be the Euro-2012 (36%) and elections (32%).
The main world event, according to Russians, is upheaval in the Middle East (27%). Ukrainians think that the top world events involve disasters in America, Japan and Russia (12%).
People of the year
As before, V. Putin is the politician number one in Russia (54%). He is followed by D. Medvedev on the second place (16%) and S. Shoygu on the third place (13%).
The writer of the year is D. Dontsova (8%), followed by B. Akunin who held the first place a year ago (3%).
The athlete of the year is E. Plyuschenko (9%) who took the first place in 2007. The previous leader A. Arshavin holds the second position (5%).
The singer of the year is S. Mikhailov (9%), followed by the previous leader Ph. Kirkorov on the second place sharing this position with N. Baskov (7%, for each).
The actor of the year is S. Bezrukov (7%), followed by K. Khabensky and M. Golub (4%, for each).
Movies, TV programs, TV series
“The Twilight. Saga” is recognized the movie of the year 2012 (4%). A year ago the first position was taken by the movie “Vysotsky. Spasibo shto jivoi” (Vysotsky: Thanks, I`m Still Alive”) (9%). The best TV series is “Interny” (8%); in 2011 it was “Svaty (“Matchmakers”). The TV program of the year 2012 is still “Pust govoryat” (“Let Them Speak”)(18%).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on December 8-9 and 15-16, 2012. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
The nationwide opinion poll was conducted by Research & Branding Group on December 1-12 2012 in Ukraine. 2176 respondents were interviewed in 24 regions of Ukraine and AR of Crimea. The margin of error does not exceed 2.2%.
What do you feel seeing off the old year and welcoming in the new year 2013? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||||
| Russia | Ukraine | ||||||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2012 |
Good mood, optimism | 33 | 40 | 29 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 30 |
No enthusiasm, though no negative emotions | 49 | 44 | 46 | 49 | 51 | 50 | 54 | 55 |
Rather bad mood, pessimism | 16 | 8 | 20 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 7 |
Hard to tell | 2 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
Index | 56 | 59 | 51 | 56 | 56 | 57 | 59 | 30 |
What kind of year was 2012 for you and your family? (close-ended question, one answer, all-Russian poll) | ||||||||||
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
Good, successful | 6 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
Good in general | 49 | 39 | 45 | 50 | 55 | 49 | 38 | 42 | 53 | 50 |
Rather difficult | 37 | 43 | 39 | 33 | 30 | 35 | 45 | 44 | 35 | 39 |
Bad, difficult | 7 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
Hard to tell | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
What kind of year was 2012 for the country in general? (close-ended question, one answer, all-Russian poll) | ||||||||||
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
Very good | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Good in general | 40 | 26 | 42 | 47 | 57 | 37 | 18 | 23 | 38 | 36 |
Rather difficult | 46 | 53 | 44 | 37 | 25 | 47 | 61 | 55 | 47 | 51 |
Bad, very difficult | 4 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 12 | 5 | 5 |
Hard to tell | 5 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
What do you expect from the year 2012 for you and your family? | ||||||||||
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
I believe that the year 2013 will be good and successful | 27 | 10 | 12 | 19 | 21 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 8 |
I believe that the year 2013 will be good in general | 47 | 45 | 52 | 51 | 54 | 37 | 47 | 51 | 54 | 51 |
I believe that the year 2013 will be rather difficult | 20 | 34 | 27 | 21 | 15 | 39 | 27 | 24 | 23 | 30 |
I believe that the year 2013 will be very bad | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Hard to tell | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 8 |
What do you expect from the year 2012 for the country in general? (close-ended question, one answer, all-Russian poll) | ||||||||||
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
I believe that the year 2013 will be good and successful | 13 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
I believe that the year 2013 will be good in general | 48 | 37 | 49 | 53 | 52 | 30 | 42 | 43 | 46 | 51 |
I believe that the year 2013 will be rather difficult | 29 | 41 | 30 | 22 | 17 | 48 | 35 | 29 | 31 | 30 |
I believe that the year 2013 will be very bad | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Hard to tell | 9 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 12 | 8 |
What do you feel on the eve of 2013? (close-ended question, not more than three answers) | ||
| Russia | Ukraine |
Joy, changes for the better | 35 | 33 |
Tranquility and confidence | 23 | 15 |
Excitement | 15 | 10 |
Tiredness, exhaustion | 16 | 6 |
Sadness | 9 | 5 |
Disappointment | 8 | 4 |
No special feelings | 17 | 26 |
Other | 1 | 0 |
Hard to tell | 1 | 3 |
Events 2012 most mentioned by respondents during the year (% of references over the year) | |
Presidential election in Russia | 18 |
Kuban flow | 15 |
London Summer Olympics | 15 |
Oboronservis corruption scandal. Serdyukov`s resiginition | 15 |
ATR-72 Air crash near Tyumen | 14 |
Celebrating the New Year and Christmas | 12 |
Death of Marina Golub in car accident | 10 |
Connecticut school massacre | 10 |
Galina Vishnevskaya passed away | 9 |
Lawyer D. Vinogradov shot dead 5 people in the office | 8 |
What were three most important events in Russia in 2012? (open-ended question, not more than three answers, all-Russian poll) | |
Presidential elections | 49 |
Krymsk flow | 12 |
Corruption scandals, fight against corruption | 9 |
Resignation of Serdyukov, appointment of Shoygu as Defense Minister | 8 |
Actions of protests, rallies | 5 |
Accession to the WTO | 5 |
Summit in Vladivistok | 5 |
Participation in the London Olympics | 3 |
Preparation to the Sochi Olympics | 2 |
Appointment of new governors and ministers | 2 |
Inflation, increase of prices | 2 |
Car accidents and air crashes | 1 |
Pussy Riot prayer | 1 |
War in Caucasus | 1 |
Increase of salaries, improvement in standards of living | 1 |
Natural disasters | 1 |
End of world | 1 |
Army reform | 1 |
Death of Marina Golub | 1 |
Reform of pension system | 1 |
Enlargement of Moscow | 1 |
Construction of pipeline | 1 |
Murder of a journalist in Kabardino-Balkaria | 1 |
Strengthening drunk driving laws | 1 |
World Cup 2018 | 1 |
Sport victories | 1 |
Many famous persons passed away | 1 |
Space engineering, development | 1 |
Other | 4 |
Hard to tell | 21 |
Who is the politician of the year? | |||||||||
| 2008 |
| 2009 |
| 2010 |
| 2011 |
| 2012 |
Putin | 60 | Putin | 50 | Putin | 55 | Putin | 38 | Putin | 54 |
Medvedev | 24 | Medvedev | 33 | Medvedev | 37 | Medvedev | 19 | Medvedev | 16 |
Zhirinovsky | 4 | Zhirinovsky | 6 | Zhirinovsky | 5 | Zhirinovsky | 8 | Shoygu | 13 |
Zyuganov | 2 | Zyuganov | 3 | Sobyanin | 4 | Zyuganov | 7 | Zhirinovsky | 7 |
Lavrov | 2 | Shoygu | 2 | Zyuganov | 2 | Mironov | 5 | Prokhorov | 4 |
Other | 11 | Other | 11 | Shoygu | 2 | Prokhorov | 5 | Zyuganov | 3 |
Hard to tell | 24 | Hard to tell | 24 | Other | 7 | None | 2 | Lavrov | 3 |
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| Hard to tell | 26 | Other | 4 | Navalny | 2 |
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| Hard to tell | 35 | Udaltsov | 2 |
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| Hard to tell | 21 |
How are you going to celebrate the New Year? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||||||
| 2003 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
Home | 74 | 73 | 77 | 76 | 77 | 75 | 76 | 72 | 73 |
Visiting friends | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 |
Restaurant, club, discotheque | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Dacha( my own, my friends` dacha, my relatives’ dacha) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Countryside, guest house | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
I will not celebrate the New Year | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Hard to tell | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
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!