Half of Russians are aware of what the press conference involving Vladimir Putin was about. The level of satisfaction with the presidents’ answers is extremely high this year.

MOSCOW, December 29, 2016.  Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of the survey describing the Russians’ interest in the Russian president’s press conference, and their assessments of the conversation between the president and the journalists.

Fifty-one percent of Russians are familiar with the content of the presidents’ talk with journalists (to compare: in 2015 this share was 46%). Eleven percent of Russian watched the live press conference in full (27% of persons aged 60 and over), 24% - in part; 16% found out the press conference highlights from the TV newscasts.

One-third of respondents who learnt the content of the press conference from the newscasts (36%) consider the presidential talk to be interesting; a further 38% think that only particular topics were interesting. Every tenth (9%) thinks that the press conference was interesting but too lengthy. Only 12% have negative opinions: 8% think that the conversation was boring, 4% were disappointed with the talk. These figures are similar to the previous year outcomes.  

At the same time, the general level of satisfaction with the 2016 press conference has reached its all time high – 88% (across all demographic groups this share exceeds 80%). Only 9% of respondents who followed the press conference live or discovered the highlights from the newscasts are satisfied with the way the president answered the questions of the journalists. 

Apart from the question about the retired persons and pensions (10%), most of Russians remember foreign policy topics such as the situation in Syria (10%), relationships with the Western countries (9%) and Ukraine (9%), as well as Russia’s military capabilities and army expenditures (8%). Fewer respondents mentioned Putin’s answers to the questions related to the 2018 presidential elections, possible election rescheduling (6%), country’s economic situation, inflation (5%), the Kerch Strait Bridge, launch of the gas pipe in Crimea (5%) et cet.

The VCIOM survey was carried out on December 24-26, 2016, using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of telephone numbers operating in Russia, and involved 1800 respondents. 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.

* In 2011-2015 there were household surveys

**In 2011 the question referred to the D. Medvedev press conference; up to 2015 the question was “Did you follow the conversation between the Russian president and the mass media representatives?”   

* In 2011-2015,  there were household surveys; up to 2015 the question was “Which of the following statements can best describe your impression of the presidential press conference?”

**In 2011 the question referred to the D. Medvedev press conference

* In 2006-2015, there were household surveys.  

**In 2011 the question referred to the D. Medvedev press conference.

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!