Most of Russians cannot justify the Romanov’s family execution in 1918; they consider it to be a terrible crime rather than a fair vengeance.

MOSCOW, July 16, 2018. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a survey dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the murder of Russia's last imperial family.

The most popular feeling that Russians express towards Nicholas II is liking (43%); it is often cited by persons aged 45 and over (45%-46%).

However, 22% are likely to perceive Nicholas II negatively; young Russians aged 18-24 tend to express dislikes towards Nicholas II. Seven percent of respondents are indifferent; 4% feel empathy (5% among the 45-59-year-olds).

Most of Russians (57%) consider that the Romanov’s family execution was a horrible crime that cannot be justified (this share is higher among those aged 35 and over than among the 18-34-year-olds). A further 29% think that the punishment was too harsh. However, Nicholas II deserved some punishment; young respondents more frequently think so (46% among the 18-24-year-olds). Only 3% believe that the imperial family execution was a fair punishment for the mistakes the Emperor made.

The VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on July 11, 2018, and involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

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