Russians consider that the decision to recognize the independence of South Ossetia was right. The Russia-Georgia relations show positive dynamics.
MOSCOW, August 8, 2018. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a survey describing how Russians assess the actions of the Russian government in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, and what they think about the decision to recognize the independence of South Ossetia.
More than one-third (36%) of respondents keep track of what happens in South Ossetia after the 2008 conflict.
At the moment, most of Russians still think that the Russian government made the right decision to support South Ossetia in August 2008 (81%). Over the recent five years this share has increased from 71%.
Eighty percent of Russians approve of the decision to recognize the sovereignty of South Ossetia ten years ago (an increase from 75% in 2013). For the time being, 9% oppose the Medvedev’s decision (vs 14% in 2013).
Today the Russia-Georgia relations are viewed less negatively than 5-15 years ago. Indeed, in 2013 every fifth respondent (22%) considered the bilateral relations tense (vs 7% of respondents today). On the contrary, the share of those who believe that the Russia-Georgia relations normalized has increased (31% vs 24% in 2013). Few respondents view the relations positively: 7% of respondents (for each group) call the relations “friendly” and “good-neighborly”.
The VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on August 6, 2018, and involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based 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 according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
The 2003-2013 results are based on household surveys (a sample size of 1,600 respondents; margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%)
Do you personally keep track of what happens in South Ossetia after the 2008 conflict? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) |
| |
| Total respondents | |
Yes, regularly | 3 | |
Yes, from time to time | 33 | |
No, I don’t | 63 | |
Don’t know | 1 | |
In 2008, a military conflict took place in South Ossetia; as a result, Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. In your opinion, was it a right decision to support South Ossetia in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2013 | 2018 |
Definitely right | 59 | 38 | 32 | 40 |
Rather right | 27 | 38 | 39 | 41 |
Rather wrong | 5 | 6 | 11 | 5 |
Definitely wrong | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Don’t know | 7 | 16 | 14 | 13 |
In August 2008, President Dmitry Medvedev signed the decrees on the sovereignty of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Do you support this decision? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2013 | 2018 |
Definitely yes | 59 | 34 | 31 | 35 |
Rather yes | 25 | 42 | 44 | 45 |
Rather not | 4 | 6 | 11 | 6 |
Definitely not | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Don’t know | 10 | 16 | 12 | 12 |
How would you generally assess the current state of Russian-Georgian relations? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||||
| Х.2003 | II.2006 | IX.2006 | VII.2013 | 2018 |
Friendly | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
Good, good-neighborly | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 7 |
Normal, calm | 16 | 9 | 9 | 24 | 31 |
Chilly | 34 | 20 | 23 | 35 | 29 |
Tense | 27 | 39 | 35 | 22 | 7 |
Hostile | 6 | 18 | 14 | 5 | 2 |
Don’t know | 12 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 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!