Russians are almost equally divided in their opinions on the destruction of sanctioned foods. Many people think this measure is reasonable and effective. But only 10% of respondents strongly oppose the idea to destroy the foods regardless of circumstances.
MOSCOW, August 25, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the data concerning the Russian opinions on the destruction of the sanctioned foods.
According to the survey conducted by the Medialogia Company, the topic of the sanctioned foods was mentioned 40430 times in Russian media over a year. Two peaks can be singled out: August 2014 (6 302) and August 2015 (17 953). A year ago the Russian government drew up the list of items prohibited for import as a retaliatory measure against the EU and US sanctions. The price increase and import substitution were actively discussed after the publication of the list. In August 2015, the Russian government approved the rules on destroying the products imported to Russia. The mass media cited official statements considering the disposal of sanctioned products to be the only way to solve the problem of illegal import to Russia. Russians living in regions actively discussed the topic of the destroyed cheese, tomatoes, apples, etc. Lots of ideas how to use the banned products, such as giving them away to people in need or even using them to generate electricity (!), were proposed.
Russians have ambiguous attitudes towards the idea to destroy the confiscated sanctioned products imported to Russia: 46% support the idea; 44% oppose it. When asked without prompt about what the Russian customs should do with the confiscated products, 22% proposed to get rid of them, and 25% - to give away to poor and homeless people. A further 14% say that the confiscated goods must be sent back.
Pondering over the reasons behind the decision to destroy the confiscated sanctioned products, the following versions were proposed. Every seventh Russian (16%) thinks that the decision was taken because these products were poor quality. Others (15%) say it is a retaliatory measure against the Western politics. Certain respondents say that this measure will help prevent similar actions in the future (10%), and it is a way to make others respect the Russian laws (7%).
Forty-nine percent of Russians are confident that the seizure and disposal will lessen the number of attempts to import the banned products. Those who think so are mainly residents of Moscow and St Petersburg (63%), and supporters of A Just Russia party (60%). More than one-third of Russians (38%) do not think that this measure will be productive. Three percent of Russians say that now the illegal importation will even be strengthened.
Generally, Russians agree that the confiscated products can be destroyed, especially if they are dangerous to health (79%). Others believe that products can be destroyed if the documentation is counterfeit or if there is no documentation at all (44%), or if the Russian law was violated (33%). Only 10% think that the idea to destroy the confiscated foods is unacceptable.
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted August 15-16, 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 26400 sources such as television, radio, newspapers, magazines, information agencies and online media. Research period: August, 2014 – August, 2015.
What is your attitude towards the destruction of the confiscated products imported from countries that imposed sanctions against Russia? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and more |
Rather positive | 46 | 42 | 46 | 45 | 48 | 45 |
Rather negative | 44 | 45 | 43 | 46 | 42 | 44 |
Don`t know | 10 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
There are attempts to import to Russia certain banned products from countries that imposed sanctions against Russia. In your opinion, what should Russian customs do with the confiscated prohibited food products? (open-ended question. any number of answers, %) | |
| Total respondents |
To give away to those in need (poor, homeless people) | 25 |
To destroy, to throw away | 22 |
To send back | 14 |
To ban (no to allow) the import; to strengthen control | 7 |
To punish those who try to import the banned foods | 3 |
To send to Ukraine as humanitarian aid | 2 |
To sell at a reduced price | 2 |
To allow entering | 2 |
To seizure | 2 |
To send to other countries as humanitarian aid | 1 |
To punish customs officers who allow these products entering the country | 1 |
To check the quality of products | 1 |
To feed animals | <1 |
Nothing | <1 |
Other | 1 |
Don`t know | 21 |
In your opinion, why do Russian authorities destroy the confiscated products imported from countries that imposed sanctions against Russia? (open-ended question, any number of answers, the given answers are presented by at least 1% of respondents ) | |
| Total respondents |
Products may be poor quality | 16 |
Retaliatory measures; anti-Russian sanctions | 15 |
So that no more products could be imported | 10 |
To make others respect the law; as a matter of principle | 7 |
To support Russian agriculture | 4 |
To show them that we can do without them | 4 |
Demonstration; to show an example for others | 4 |
A political move | 2 |
Combating counterfeit | 2 |
Stupidity | 2 |
To increase county`s economic potential | 1 |
They do not think about ordinary people | 1 |
Not to provoke speculations | 1 |
No any other way out was found | 1 |
Other | 5 |
Don`t know | 31 |
In your opinion, is it a good idea to destroy the confiscated products? If yes, under what circumstances? (closed-ended question, not more than three answers, %) | |
| Total respondents |
Yes, the products can be destroyediff they are poor quality and not good for health | 79 |
Yes, the products can be destroyed if counterfeit documents or no documents were provided | 44 |
Yes, the products can be destroyed if the products were imported in violation of Russian laws | 33 |
No way should the products be destroyed | 10 |
Other | 2 |
Don`t know | 2 |
In your opinion, if the confiscated products are destroyed, will the volumes of the imported products be the same, larger or smaller than now? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St.Petersburg | Million cities | More than 500 ths | 100–500 ths | Less than 100 ths | Rural area |
Rather smaller | 49 | 63 | 41 | 49 | 53 | 43 | 50 |
Rather the same | 38 | 29 | 39 | 41 | 35 | 42 | 38 |
Rather larger | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Don`t know | 10 | 6 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 8 |
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