Tensions in Russian-Turkish relationships are escalating.
MOSCOW, February 17, 2016. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the results of the survey devoted to the Russian assessment of the Russia-Turkey relationships.
Today Russians assess the Russian-Turkish relationships as extremely negative: 23% call them hostile, 47% - tense, 14% - cool. No progress is possible in the bilateral relations: half of Russians (49%) think tensions are increasing (54% of men; 56% of retired persons; 56% of those with high income). Every third (36%) does not mention any changes. Only 6% think that the relationships are being normalized.
Most of Russians think that political contacts should not be restored. Thirty-five percent of Russians admit a clean break of relations due to controversial political views. A further 33% agree to continue social and economic cooperation but oppose political cooperation. When asked the same question related to Ukraine two weeks before, respondents gave milder answers; as to the U.S.A., the responses were much more friendly (October 2015 data).
According to the Medialogia Company analysis, a total of more than 800 thousand mentions devoted to Turkey were found in the Russian media in 2015. The media reported on the SU-24 Russian strike aircraft shot down by Turkish air force, international reaction, operation to rescue Russian SU-24 pilots and Russia-Turkey relationships. Turkey was also mentioned in the context of changing situation in the Russian tourist business, introduction of visa regime and sanctions against Turkey.
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on February 6-7, 2016. A total of 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 settlements in 46 regions and republics of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%. Russian media monitoring and analysis were carried out by the Medialogia Company using approximately 30 300 sources such as television, radio, newspapers, magazines, information agencies and online media. Research period: January - December 2015.
How would you assess the current relationships between Russia and Turkey? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||
| Total respondents | Those who use the Internet almost every day | Those who use the Internet several times in a week or in a month | Those who use the Internet from time to time |
Friendly | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Good-neighborly | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Rather warm | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Neutral | 9 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
Cool | 14 | 13 | 15 | 13 |
Tense | 47 | 51 | 46 | 41 |
Hostile | 23 | 21 | 20 | 28 |
Don’t know | 5 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
In your opinion, in what direction are the Russia-Turkey relationships evolving today? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
Situation is being normalized | 6 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 5 |
Situation is getting neither better nor worse; nothing is changing | 36 | 44 | 41 | 36 | 34 | 30 |
Situation is getting more tense, considerably deteriorating | 49 | 40 | 43 | 49 | 52 | 56 |
Don’t know | 9 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 9 |
Russian and Turkish authorities have had many political and economic controversies. In your opinion, what position should Russia take? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||
| February 2016 relations with Turkey | January 2016 relationships with Ukraine | October 2015 relationships with the U.S.A. |
To isolate Turkey and to restrict economic and political cooperation with Turkey | 35 | 30 | 14 |
To counteract Turkish politics developing social and economic relations between Russia and Turkey | 33 | 28 | 35 |
To restore cooperation with Turkey and to move on despite controversies | 19 | 25 | 39 |
Don’t know | 13 | 17 | 12 |
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. Full or partial reproduction of the Medialogia Company materials in other media must contain a reference to the Medialogia Company.