Russians support the authorities’ active measures to counteract terrorist threat in Syria.
MOSCOW, October 9, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the results of the survey describing the Russian attitudes towards the war in Syria: who is to blame for the war; what party Russia should support in this long war; and how Russians assess the Russian president’s decision to send troops to Syria.
Russians are still very concerned about the situation in Syria: more than two-thirds of Russian keep track of the situation (68%), including 22% of those who do it regularly. Two years ago the proportions were the same (69% in August and 68% in October 2013). Those who are interested are mainly men (75%), representatives of older generations (73-75% of those aged 45 and over) and those who have high level of education (75%).
According to the Medialogia Company analysis, over the recent five years Syria has been mentioned 52 000 times in the federal TV. The peaks in media coverage was in September 2013 (4270 references) and September 2015 (3771 references). In September 2013, media reported the aggravation of the situation in Syria and international discussion to resolve the conflict. The dominant topic in September 2015 was Russian air strikes on ISIL positions and talks on Syrian conflict. Besides, mass media also covered the migrant crisis in Europe caused by the Syrian conflict.
Russians tend to blame the United States and its allies for this long and bloody war (56% of sample mean, 64% of CPRF supporters) rather than the immediate parties involved such as the supporters of the Islamic State (14%), president al-Assad and his allies (7% of sample mean; 18% of non-parliamentary electorate), etc.
Generally, Russians support the preventive tactics rather than a waiting position. Sixty-four percent of Russians consider that Russia should intervene in the conflict to prevent the Islamic terrorists penetrating Russian territory. They are opposed by 29% of those who think that Russia should not take part in the Syrian conflict as this may incite terrorists to attack Russia.
Most of respondents (62%) think that Russia should not stay neutral in this conflict. Half of Russians (52%) think that the party that Russia should support in the conflict is the legitimate Syrian president. Ten percent believe that Russia should provide assistance to the Syrian opposition (including 4% of those who say that Russia should support those who fight for the formation of the Islamic State). A further 13% are in favor of the neutral position (twice as many women as men – 16% versus 9%, respectively).
Those respondents who believe that Russia should provide some kind of assistance to one of the parties involved in the conflict cite diplomatic (44%) or humanitarian assistance (41%) as well sending air forces (40%) or weapons (24%).
V. Putin’s decision to send air troops to attack ISIL is supported by the majority of Russians (66%). They are those who keep track of the Syrian conflict regularly (84%), men (77%), and residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg (75%).
To learn more about the results, click here
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on October 3-4, 2015; 1600 respondents were interviewed in 132 settlements in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%. Monitoring and analysis of the Russian media publications were carried out by the Medialogia Company using approximately 26800 sources such as television, radio, newspapers, magazines, information agencies and online media. Research period: January 2011 – September 2015
Do you keep track of what is happening in Syria, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||||
| 2012 | August 2013 | October 2013 | 2015 | |
I keep track of the situation in Syria regularly and attentively | 8 | 20 | 15 | 22 | |
I am interested in this topic but I do not keep track of the situation regularly | 37 | 49 | 53 | 46 | |
I am not interested in this situation in Syria at all | 52 | 30 | 31 | 31 | |
Don’t know | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
There has been a bloody war in Syria for four years. In your opinion, who is to blame for this war? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||||||
| Total | A Just Russia party | Supporters of LDPR | Supporters of CPRF | Supporters of United Russia party | Supporters of non-parliamentary parties | I would not take part in elections |
U.S. and its allies | 56 | 61 | 52 | 64 | 57 | 55 | 46 |
Opposition that is fighting for the formation of the Islamic state | 14 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 9 |
President Bashar al-Assad and his allies | 7 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 18 | 7 |
Opposition that is fighting for the creation of the democratic state | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Russia | <1 | 1 | <1 | 1 | <1 | <1 | <1 |
Other | 2 | 2 | 3 | <1 | 2 | <1 | 4 |
Don’t know | 19 | 13 | 22 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 30 |
Do you know the position that Russia has taken in the Syrian conflict? Describe it in two or three word. (open-ended question, not more than three answers, %) | |
| Total respondents |
Combating ISIL, supporting al-Assad | 18 |
Peaceful settlement of conflict | 7 |
Protection, help | 6 |
Combating terrorism | 4 |
Military help | 2 |
Protecting civilians | 1 |
Airstrikes | 1 |
Non-interference in Syria’s affairs | 1 |
Dominant, leading position | 1 |
Pursuing national interests | <1 |
Against USA | <1 |
I do not know Russia’s position | 41 |
Other | 3 |
Don’t know | 15 |
What party should Russia support in the Syrian conflict? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||
| Total respondents | Men | Women | |
President Bashar al-Assad and his allies | 52 | 62 | 44 | |
Opposition that is fighting against Bashar al-Assad for the creation of the democratic state | 6 | 7 | 6 | |
Opposition that is fighting against Bashar al-Assad for the formation of the Islamic state on the territory of Syria and other countries | 4 | 5 | 3 | |
None | 13 | 9 | 16 | |
Other | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
Don`t know | 23 | 16 | 29 | |
What kind of support should Russia provide? (closed-ended question, not more than three answers, % of those who believe that Russia should support one of the parties involved in the conflict) | |
| Total respondents |
Diplomatic | 44 |
Humanitarian, economic | 41 |
Military aviation, air strikes | 40 |
Weapon supplies | 24 |
Sending advisors | 17 |
Sending ground troops (land operations) ) | 5 |
Don`t know | 11 |
Which of the following statements do you most agree with? closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||
|
| The Afghan war came to an end twenty-six years ago. In your opinion, what lesson should we learn from the Afghan war? | ||
| Total respondents | War should be made on foreign territories | It is better not to intervene in other countries’ conflicts to have less enemies | |
Russia should not take part in the Syrian conflict because this may incite the Islamic terrorists to attack Russia | 29 | 12 | 43 | |
Russia should take part in the Syrian conflict to attack the Islamic terrorists at long ranges not allowing them penetrating the Russian territory | 64 | 84 | 49 | |
Don`t know | 7 | 3 | 8 | |
How do you assess the decision of the Russian President V. Putin to send air troops to Syria to fight against the terrorist organization ISIL? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||
| Total respondents | Those who keep track of the Syrian situation regularly | Those who are interested in the Syrian situation from time to time | Those who are not interested in the Syrian situation |
I completely agree | 38 | 66 | 34 | 23 |
I am likely to agree | 28 | 18 | 37 | 21 |
I am likely to disagree | 15 | 8 | 14 | 20 |
I definitely disagree | 12 | 5 | 10 | 21 |
Don`t know | 7 | 3 | 6 | 14 |
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.