MOSCOW, April 2, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study devoted to the Russia-Belarus relationships.
Today respondents tend to view the relationship between Russia and Belarus through a positive or neutral lens: 30% of respondents call it normal and calm; 22%, friendly, and 15%, good-neighborly. Twenty-five percent of Russians think that the relationship became chilly or even tense.
Every second Russian (51%) believes that the Russian-Belarusian relationship has stayed the same over the recent year. Deterioration is mentioned by 22% of respondents; 14% point to improvements.
Forty-nine percent of Russians are aware of the Russian-Belarusian Union State. At the same time, many Russians do not show a keen interest in this union: 48% say that the two countries should not be united, and what Russia needs is strong good-neighborly relationships with Belarus. Uniting two states on equal footing or the incorporation of Belarus into the Russian Federation are supported by 18% and 17% of respondents, respectively.
VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on January 15, 2019. The survey 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 2.2%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
How would you assess the current Russia-Belarus relationship? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Normal, calm | 30 |
Friendly | 22 |
Good, good-neighborly | 15 |
Chilly | 15 |
Tense | 9 |
Hostile | 1 |
Don’t know | 8 |
In your opinion, in what direction has the Russian-Belarusian relationship been evolving over the recent year? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Relationships are improving | 14 |
Relationships are deteriorating | 22 |
Relationships have stayed the same | 51 |
Don’t know | 13 |
Do you know/have you heard/do you hear for the first time about the Russian-Belarusian Union State? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
I am well aware | 10 |
I heard something but do not know any details | 39 |
I hear about it for the first time | 51 |
What kind of union would you like the Russian-Belarusian Union State to be like? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Uniting two states into one state on equal footing | 18 |
Incorporation of Belarus into the Russian Federation as a subject of the Russian Federation | 17 |
No union of states is needed; what is important for Russia is to maintain strong good-neighborly relationships with Belarus like with any other state | 48 |
No answer | 9 |
Don’t know | 8 |
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!