After four years in jail Sergey Udaltsov fell out of favor with most Russians.
MOSCOW, August 22, 2017. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of a survey devoted to the perceptions of Russians towards Sergey Udaltsov.
Today less than half of Russians report to know who Sergey Udaltsov is (39% in the whole sample, including 35% of those who know him superficially), whereas 61% are unaware of him. The level of awareness is 23% among the 18-24-year-olds, 49% among supporters of CPRF and non-parliamentary parties (for each group), 55% among Moscow and St Petersburg residents.
Most of those who are aware of his activities with varying degrees feel indifference and express negative emotions about Udaltsov: 42% feel nothing, 20% distrust him, 13% express dislikes, and 7% condemnation. The total percentage of positive assessments is less than 10%. When asked about their attitudes towards Udaltsov, 11% say they treat him positively, 37% negatively. Generally, much more Russians fail to express their attitudes toward Udaltsov, as 52% do not provide any response today.
Most of Russians (59%) who are aware of Udaltsov consider that he is guilty of organizing riots; only 16% oppose them (35% of non-parliamentary parties’ supporters; 28% of residents of Moscow and St Petersburg ).
The majority of respondents who heard of this oppositionist released from jail (67%) see no future for Udaltsov (67%); only 4% say he might achieve success in politics; a further 13% think that he has already achieved a lot.
The Medialogia Company conducted an analysis of more than 4,500 mentions devoted to Sergey Udaltsov in the Russia media. Most of them are dated August 2017 (2,300 mentions). The media reported that Sergey Udaltsov charged with rioting on Bolotnaya Square had been released from jail. The media also cited his announcements after imprisonment.
The VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide survey was conducted on August 12-13, 2017. The survey involved 1,200 Russians aged 18 and over, and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted for the probability of selection and reflect social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 3.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Results for the 2012-2015 study are based on household survey.
The Russian media publications were monitored and analyzed by the Medialogia Company using the company’s media database involving approximately 42,000 media sources such as television, radio, newspapers, magazines, news agencies and online media. The study took place from August 2016 to August 2017.
Have you heard about Sergey Udaltsov, or is this the first time you hear about him? (closed-ended question, one answer %) | |||||
| II.2012 * | IX.2012 * | IV.2013 * | III.2015 * | VIII.2017 |
I am well aware | 3 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 4 |
I heard something | 10 | 26 | 35 | 28 | 35 |
This is the first time I hear about him | 87 | 61 | 52 | 55 | 61 |
* In 2012-2015 the question wording was ‘Now I will read you the names of politicians and public figures; tell me who you know. Udaltsov Sergey’
Have you heard about Sergey Udaltsov, or is this the first time you hear about him? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||
| Total respondents, 2017 | Supporters of A Just Russia party | Supporters of LDPR | Supporters of CPRF | Supporters of United Russia | Supporters of non-parliamentary parties |
I am well aware | 4 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 11 |
I heard something | 35 | 28 | 31 | 41 | 31 | 38 |
This is the first time I hear about him | 61 | 69 | 63 | 51 | 66 | 51 |
Do you treat Sergey Udaltsov positively or negatively? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who previously heard of Udaltsov) | |||||
| II.2012* | IX.2012* | IV.2013* | III.2015* | VIII.2017 |
Rather positively | 18 | 27 | 17 | 14 | 11 |
Rather negatively | 26 | 42 | 55 | 43 | 37 |
Don't know | 56 | 31 | 28 | 43 | 52 |
*In 2012-2015 the question wording was ‘How do you perceive this person – positively or negatively: Sergey Udaltsov?’
Do you treat Sergey Udaltsov positively or negatively? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who previously heard of Udaltsov) | ||||||
| Total respondents, 2017 | Supporters of A Just Russia party | Supporters of LDPR | Supporters of CPRF | Supporters of United Russia | Supporters of non-parliamentary parties |
Rather positively | 11 | 0 | 19 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
Rather negatively | 37 | 63 | 25 | 42 | 41 | 47 |
Don't know | 52 | 37 | 56 | 47 | 50 | 44 |
Now I will read a list of feelings. Can you tell me, what feelings do you have about Sergey Udaltsov? You can give one or two answers. (closed-ended question, not more than two answers, % of those who previously heard of Udaltsov) | ||||||
| Total respondents, 2017 | Supporters of A Just Russia party | Supporters of LDPR | Supporters of CPRF | Supporters of United Russia | Supporters of non-parliamentary parties |
Indifference | 42 | 39 | 49 | 35 | 41 | 51 |
Distrust | 20 | 39 | 16 | 29 | 19 | 19 |
Dislike | 13 | 19 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 4 |
Condemnation | 7 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 0 |
Hatred | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 |
Disappointment | 3 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 7 |
Liking | 3 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
Hope | 2 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
Respect | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
Trust | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Fear | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
Admiration | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Don't know | 18 | 12 | 14 | 22 | 17 | 14 |
Three years ago Udaltsov was sentenced for organizing riots. In your opinion, was Udaltsov guilty or not of organizing mass riots? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who previously heard of Udaltsov) | ||||||
| Total respondents, 2017 | Supporters of A Just Russia party | Supporters of LDPR | Supporters of CPRF | Supporters of United Russia | Supporters of non-parliamentary parties |
Rather guilty | 59 | 56 | 59 | 50 | 69 | 43 |
Rather not guilty | 16 | 24 | 21 | 18 | 6 | 35 |
Don't know | 25 | 20 | 20 | 32 | 25 | 22 |
Udaltsov recently released from prison announced his political comeback. In your opinion, what perspectives does he have as a politician? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who previously heard of Udaltsov) | ||||||
| Total respondents, 2017 | Supporters of A Just Russia party | Supporters of LDPR | Supporters of CPRF | Supporters of United Russia | Supporters of non-parliamentary parties |
He has positive perspectives | 4 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
He has achieved a lot but he can hardly achieve more than now | 13 | 9 | 18 | 5 | 13 | 16 |
He does not have any future; his influence will be decreasing | 67 | 86 | 61 | 60 | 71 | 66 |
Don't know | 16 | 5 | 15 | 31 | 14 | 15 |
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! The use of the Medialogia system content, fully or partially, must be accompanied by the reference to the Medialogia Company.