Year by year less Russians negatively assess the epoch of Yeltsin.
MOSCOW, January 31, 2011. In anticipation of 80 years since Boris Yeltsin`s birth Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the digest of opinion polls devoted to the first Russian president.
In 1996 Russians found the following traits attractive in Yeltsin`s character: experience (10%), energy (7%), ability to compromise (6%), ability to take the lead, honesty, understanding the needs of ordinary people (for 3%). As to negative traits, Russians mentioned mainly inability to lead the country (30%) and being undetermined (17%).
In August 1991 one-quarter of Russians supported Yeltsin (25%). In case such event happened again, 18% of Russians would support him again.
Russians regard Yeltsin as one of the main persons to blame for the October 1993 events , in particular - for his irresponsible policy (24%), and for him being undetermined in quelling the riots (7%).
Assessing the development of the country, two-thirds of Russians recognize that Russia was developing in a wrong direction (64%) in Yeltsin`s time. Nevertheless, 17% oppose this stance.
Over the recent decade, the share of Russians who believe that Yeltsin`s epoch brought about more bad things than the good ones has decreased (from 67% in 2000 to 56% in 2009). On the contrary, every fifth think that the years of Yeltsin`s rule were rather good (20%).
Often Russians say that the Yeltsin`s statement about his early resignation caused their satisfaction (39%), however in 2000 the share of such respondents was much bigger (52%). Many respondents say that they did not express any special emotions (32%, in 2000 - 10%). Those who were surprised or delighted were 7% (for each group); 4% felt perplexity, 2% (for each) - regret and disturbance, 1% - anxiety.
As before, most of Russians think that Yeltsin`s resignation was caused by his disease and inability to perform his presidential duties (38%). Every fifth think that Yeltsin wanted to make a room for young politicians, or he did so under the critics` pressure (19%). Over the recent nine years the share of those who think that Yetsin `s decision was driven by his desire to make special conditions in Putin`s struggle for the presidential chair has decreased twice (from 29% in 2000 to 14% in 2009).
According to Russians, the death of Boris Yeltsin was one of the key events happened in 2007 along with disasters and conflict with Georgia.
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted in 1996, 2007, 2008, and 2009. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
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