70% of respondents approve of the establishment of the Eurasian Union. Most of Russians chose Yekaterinburg as a capital of the Union (34%), followed by Astana among foreign cities (16%).
MOSCOW, July 3, 2014. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the information concerning the attitudes of Russians towards establishing the Eurasian Economic Union.
Most of Russians approve of the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union: 70% are positive about the Union involving Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. The Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union was signed by the presidents of these three countries on May 29 in Astana. According to the Treaty, the EEU will come into effect on January 1, 2015. Nursultan Nazarbaev was the first person to have made the EEU initiative pubic twenty years ago. Today only 4% of respondents are negative about this initiative. One-quarter of Russians (25%) are hard to answer.
Forty-one percent of respondents would like the EEU to be a totally new structure with new principles. Those who think so are mainly respondents with high level of education (46%), rather than those who have elementary level of education (19%). Every fourth (27%) would like it to be a new form of USSR given that each country is independent. Other 10% believe that the EEU will be a counterpart of the European Union.
Every third Russian opts for Yekaterinburg as a capital of the EEU (34%). Twenty-two percent choose Moscow; they are mainly rural area residents (26%), rather than Muscovites and St.Petersburgians (17%). Astana is supported by 16% of respondents. Only 5% choose Minsk; 4% choose another city.
Among countries that could join the Union (apart from Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus) most of Russians choose Armenia (45%); the Armenian authorities have declared to join the Union in the short run. Every fifth welcomes Azerbaijan, Kyrgyz Republic and Moldova (23%, 20% and 20%, respectively); 17% would invite Uzbekistan; 14% (per each group) would invite Tajikistan and Georgia. Fewer respondents choose Ukraine (10%). Thirteen percent believe that the EEU should not be enlarged.
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on June 14-15, 2014. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. Data are weighted by gender, age, education, working status and type of settlement. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
On May 29 the Treaty on the Economic Union was signed in Astana. What is your attitude towards establishing this union? (closed-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
| Total | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over |
Absolutely positive | 26 | 19 | 21 | 25 | 28 | 34 |
Rather positive | 44 | 38 | 46 | 48 | 47 | 41 |
Rather negative | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
Absolutely negative | 1 | <1 | 1 | 1 | <1 | 1 |
Don`t know | 26 | 38 | 29 | 23 | 21 | 21 |
What would you like this Union to be like? (closed-ended question, one answer) | |||||
| Total | Elementary (incomplete secondary) education | Secondary education (school, vocational school) | Specialized secondary education (technical school) | Incomplete higher (not less than three years in a higher education institute), higher education |
A new structure with new form and principles | 41 | 19 | 38 | 41 | 46 |
Restoration of the USSR with political independence of each country | 27 | 33 | 26 | 29 | 25 |
Eurasian counterpart of the European Union | 10 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
We do not need the Eurasian Economic Union | 4 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
Other | 1 | <1 | 1 | <1 | 1 |
Don`t know | 17 | 38 | 24 | 15 | 13 |
The president of Kazakhstan proposed Astana or Yekaterinburg as a capital of the EEU? What city would you choose? (closed-ended question, any number of answers) | |||||||
| Total | Moscow and St.Petersburg | Million cities | More than 500 ths | 100–500 ths | Less than 100 ths | Rural area |
Yekaterinburg | 34 | 29 | 41 | 28 | 31 | 34 | 36 |
Moscow | 22 | 17 | 16 | 11 | 25 | 23 | 26 |
Astana | 16 | 19 | 10 | 21 | 18 | 16 | 16 |
I believe that the EEU does no need any capital | 12 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 10 | 16 | 8 |
Minsk | 5 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 3 |
Other city | 4 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Don`t know | 13 | 13 | 24 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 12 |
In your opinion, what CIS countries (except for Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus) should join the Eurasian Economic Union? (closed-ended question, not more than three answers) | |
| Total |
Armenia | 45 |
Azerbaijan | 23 |
Kyrgyz Republic | 20 |
Moldova | 20 |
Uzbekistan | 17 |
Georgia | 14 |
Tajikistan | 14 |
Turkmenistan | 11 |
Ukraine | 10 |
EEU should not be enlarged | 13 |
Don`t know | 17 |
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!