Only half of Russians believe that the authorities are capable of protecting the population against the terrorist attacks. However, three-thirds of respondents believe that terrorists must be destroyed by any means.
MOSCOW, January 21, 2014. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information concerning the following questions: whether Russians think that the terrorist attacks in Volgograd might have been prevented; how they assess the capacities of the authorities to protect the population against a new terrorist attack; how the problem of terrorism should be solved.
Forty-five percent of Russians consider that the December terrorist attacks might have been prevented. They are opposed by 44% of those who say that terrorist attacks cannot be prevented or avoided. The share of those who thought so after the first terrorist attack (in October) is 49%. Muscovites and St. Petersburgians (51%) are quite confident the Volgograd terrorist attacks might have been prevented; whereas rural area residents (53%) often say that the tragedy could not have been prevented.
Most of respondents (63%) are skeptical about the capacities of the authorities to protect the population against a new terrorist threat. Almost one-third of respondents (29%) are confident that the Russian authorities will protect them against potential threat. The share of respondents who gave the similar answer three years ago, after the Moscow metro attacks, is 36% (April, 2010); after the Beslan school siege, ten years ago, it was 28% (September, 2004). Those who are more optimistic are adherents of the United Russia and A Just Russia parties (38% and 33%, respectively); supporters of the LDPR are more critical (19%).
To solve the problem of terrorism terrorist should be destroyed, as most of Russians say (78%). Over the recent ten years, the opinion of Russians concerning this issue has almost not changed (in 2002 the same answer was given by 70% respondents). Only 15% of respondents believe that it is better to negotiate with terrorists.
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on January 11-12, 2013. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
There have been several terrorist attacks in Volgograd before the New Year. More than thirty persons were killed in the attacks. In your opinion, could these attacks have been prevented, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer) | |||
April 2010 * | November 2013 ** | January 2014 | |
Yes, the attacks could have been prevented | 54 | 41 | 45 |
No, it is not possible to protect the people against terrorism | 33 | 49 | 44 |
Don`t know | 13 | 10 | 11 |
*In April 2010 the question referred to the Moscow metro explosions. **In November 2013 the question referred to the terrorist attack on a bus in Volgograd | |||
In your opinion, are Russian authorities capable of protecting the Russian population against a new terrorist threat? (closed-ended question, one answer) | ||||||||
| X.2003 | II.2004 | IX.2004 | VIII. 2005 | VIII. 2006 | IX.2007 | VIII.2008 | VIII.2009 |
Definitely yes | 6 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 16 | 8 |
Rather yes | 26 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 33 | 37 | 50 | 41 |
Rather no | 42 | 50 | 43 | 38 | 39 | 36 | 19 | 28 |
Definitely no | 20 | 24 | 22 | 27 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 9 |
Don`t know | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 |
In your opinion, are Russian authorities capable of protecting the Russian population against a new terrorist threat? (closed-ended question, one answer) | ||||||||
| IV.2010 | IX.2010 | II.2011 | IX.2011 | IX.2012 | VIII.2013 | ХI.2013 | I.2014 |
Definitely yes | 6 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 4 |
Rather yes | 30 | 32 | 17 | 29 | 42 | 44 | 26 | 25 |
Rather no | 36 | 38 | 44 | 41 | 32 | 30 | 42 | 47 |
Definitely no | 10 | 15 | 25 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 16 | 16 |
Don`t know | 18 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
What statement is closer to yours? (closed-ended question, one answer) | |||
2002 | 2010 | 2014 | |
The only way to solve the problem of terrorism is to destroy the terrorists | 70 | 75 | 78 |
Negotiating with terrorists and finding the ways to satisfy both parties are essential things | 23 | 15 | 15 |
Don`t know | 7 | 10 | 7 |
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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!