MOSCOW, October 25, 2007 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information concerning the degree of importance that Russians attribute to the electivity of the governing institutions and whether they need additional information on the main norms of the suffrage and the electoral process in the country. The data was gathered as a result of the survey carried out by VCIOM in September this year upon request of the Central Electoral Committee of the Russian Federation.

76% of respondents mention the importance they attribute to the electivity of governing institutions in the Russian society. The public opinion holds the freedom of movement and travel (84%), freedom of speech and mass-media (83%) for more important. Less significant for respondents are freedom of enterprise (74%), separation of powers into the executive, legislative and judicial (70%); the existence of trade unions (66%). It is interesting to note, that respondents consider the existence of State Duma (61%) and a multi-party system (56%) still less important.

The higher the educational level of the respondents was, the more they emphasized the value of electivity of the government institutions. 65% of respondents with less than secondary education and 82% with higher and uncompleted higher education consider it important, this includes 29% and 42% respectively who find it very important. About the same share of respondents in all education groups perceive the institute of elections as insignificant (10-12% each). Thus the share of respondents who find it hard to provide an estimation decreases from 22% in the least educated group down to 8% in the best educated one.

Nearly half of respondents feel the need to obtain additional information on the basic suffrage norms and the election process in Russia, 44%, including 15% who definitely feel that they lack information. In comparison with the state of affairs in May the share of respondents showing definite interest in additional information on the topic has increased by 4%.

Respondents who would like to learn more about the suffrage and the electoral process mostly possess a higher educational level (46% in group with higher and uncompleted higher education, cf.: 32% in the group with lower than elementary education).

The All-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM on September 22-29, 2007. 3000 respondents were interviewed in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 1.8%.