Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

As before, Russians consider Belarus and Kazakhstan to be the most successful CIS countries and Russia’s key partners. 

MOSCOW, December 19, 2016.  Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing how Russians assess the success of the CIS countries; which country is regarded as Russia’s partner; in what country the rights of the Russian-speaking population are respected the most; which CIS leader Russians trust the most.

 

Russians also consider Belarus (66%) and Kazakhstan (55%) to be Russia’s main partners internationally. They are followed by Armenia (16%; 5% in 2013), Uzbekistan (10%; 3% in 2014-2015), and Azerbaijan (8%), and others.Most of Russians like and support Belarus and Kazakhstan more than any other CIS country: Belarus is mentioned by 68%; and Kazakhstan – by 51%. Countries that have seen an upward trend are Armenia (from 9% in 2014 to 16% in 2016), Uzbekistan (from 3% in 2014-2015 to 14% in 2016) and Tajikistan (from 1% in 2015 to 7% in 2016).

Asked about the country that respects the rights of the Russian-speaking population the most, most of respondents also cite Belarus (69%; 27% in 2010) and Kazakhstan (38%; 18% in 2013). Other CIS countries are less mentioned: Armenia (13%), Ukraine (6%), Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Moldavia, Uzbekistan (5%, per each country), Georgia, Tajikistan (4% per each country), and Turkmenistan (2%).

Presidents of Belarus and Kazakhstan are at the top of the CIS trustworthy leaders’ ranking: Aleksandr Lukashenko (65%), Nursultan Nazarbaev (54%; a significant increase from 45% over a year; another significant increase from 31% in 2012).  The percentage of Russians who trust other CIS leaders vary between 2% and 11%; Ilham Aliyev – 11%; Serzh Sargsyan – 8%; Shavkat Mirziyoyev– 6%; Almazbek Atambaev and Igor Dodon – 5% (for each); Gurbanguli  Berdymuhamedov and Emomali Rahmon – 4% (for each); Georgy Margvelashvili – 3%; Petro Poroshenko – 2%.

The VCIOM survey was commissioned by the CROS Company and conducted on December 10-11, 2016, using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of telephone numbers operating in Russia, and involved 1600 respondents. 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 field work can introduce bias into the survey. In 2010-2015 the household surveys were conducted.

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Speaking about the CIS countries, i.e. countries that are or were part of the CIS, which of the countries mentioned below do you consider to be the most stable and successful?

 (closed-ended question, not more than three answers, %)

 

2010

2011  

2012  

2013  

2014  

2015  

2016

Belarus

31

35

45

50

66

72

68

Kazakhstan

34

42

33

35

45

50

51

Armenia

9

9

7

6

9

11

16

Uzbekistan

3

4

3

2

3

3

14

Azerbaijan

6

9

6

7

10

10

13

Georgia

3

3

5

5

5

6

8

Kyrgyzstan

2

3

3

3

5

4

8

Turkmenistan

5

4

4

4

4

3

8

Tajikistan

1

1

1

1

2

1

7

Moldavia

5

5

3

4

5

1

4

Ukraine

19

17

19

21

2

1

2

Don’t know

33

29

29

22

16

13

10

* Up to 2016, the question was stated as follows: “Which CIS country do you consider to be the most successful today?”

Which of the countries mentioned below do you consider Russia’s reliable partner internationally?*

 (closed-ended question, not more than three answers, %)

 

2010  

2011  

2012  

2013  

2014  

2015  

2016  

Belarus

23

36

46

51

65

68

66

Kazakhstan

37

42

38

37

46

53

55

Armenia

6

7

5

5

7

10

16

Uzbekistan

3

3

3

2

3

3

10

Azerbaijan

3

5

4

5

6

5

8

Kyrgyzstan

2

3

4

2

5

7

7

Tajikistan

1

1

2

1

2

1

6

Georgia

1

1

1

2

1

3

5

Moldavia

4

3

2

3

5

1

5

Turkmenistan

2

2

2

2

3

1

4

Ukraine

21

15

17

18

3

0

2

Don’t know

34

29

28

21

17

17

11

* Up to 2016, the question was stated as follows “Which CIS country do you consider to be the most reliable Russia’s partner?”

In which of the countries mentioned below do the rights of the Russian-speaking population (political, social, civil and other rights) are respected the most? (closed-ended question, not more than three answers, %)

 

2010  

2011  

2012  

2013  

2014  

2015  

2016  

Belarus

27

45

46

52

63

69

69

Kazakhstan

21

25

24

18

31

32

38

Armenia

5

4

4

4

5

6

13

Ukraine

17

18

16

18

2

1

6

Kyrgyzstan

1

1

2

2

4

3

5

Azerbaijan

2

2

2

2

4

3

5

Moldavia

4

3

2

4

4

2

5

Uzbekistan

2

2

2

1

2

2

5

Georgia

1

1

1

1

1

2

4

Tajikistan

1

1

1

0

1

1

4

Turkmenistan

1

1

2

1

1

1

2

Don’t know

45

35

36

31

24

22

16


Which CIS leader is the most trustworthy, in your opinion?
(closed-ended question, not more than three answers, %)

 

2010  

2011  

2012  

2013  

2014  

2015  

2016  

Lukashenko Aleksandr (President of Belarus)

16

28

34

41

61

63

65

Nazarbaev Nursultan (President of Kazakhstan)

32

37

31

33

38

45

54

Aliev Ilkham (President of Azerbaijan)

5

7

5

5

6

6

11

Sargsyan Serzh (President of Armenia)

4

6

3

3

4

5

8

Mirziyoyev Shavkat (President of Uzbekistan

2

3

2

2

3

2

6

Atambayev Almazbek (President of Kyrgyzstan)**

2

2

3

2

3

4

5

Dodon Igor (President of Moldavia)***

1

2

1

2

3

1

5

Berdimuhamedov Gurbanguly (President of Turkmenistan)

2

2

2

1

1

1

4

Rahmon Emomali (President of Tajikistan)

1

1

2

1

1

1

4

Margvelashvili Georgy (President of Georgia)****

1

2

1

2

1

2

3

Poroshenko Petro (President of Ukraine) *****

17

12

12

10

1

0

2

Don’t know

43

36

38

32

23 

19

13

*In 2010-2015 the question referred to Islam Karimov.

** In 2010-2011 the question referred to Roza Otunbayeva.

*** In 2010 the question referred to Mihai Ghimpu; in 2011 – Marian Lulu; in 2012-2015 – Nicolae Timofti.

**** In 2010-2013, inclusively, the question referred to Mikheil Saakashvili.

***** In 2010-2013, inclusively, the question referred to Viktor Yanukovich. 

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! 

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