MOSCOW, December 27, 2007 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information on what events of the expiring year (international, economic, social, political, cultural, sport, etc.) Russians consider the most important.
Respondents mention price increase, inflation (3%); D. Medvedev being proclaimed the presidential contender and the change of government (2%) as the main all-Russian events of the expiring year. 1% of respondents for each option speak of the conflict with Georgia, wage increase for public sector employees, increases in pensions; B. Yeltsin's death; emergencies, catastrophes, acts of terrorism; economic growth in the country; holidays and other events in the life of their home city, region.
Respondents name the latest elections to the State Duma as the most important event in Russian politics (44%). Only 8% of respondents call D. Medvedev´s nomination as presidential contender the most important event of year. 5% of respondents lay emphasis upon proclaiming V. Zubkov Prime Minister as well as other changes in the Cabinet.
The Kosovo issue and continuation of the war in Iraq drew the most attention of Russians in terms of international politics (3-4% of respondents). 2% of respondents for each option emphasize the significance of strengthening Russia's grounds in the international arena; elections to Supreme Rada of the Ukraine and appointing the new presidential elections in Georgia; the entry of new countries into Schengen; acts of terrorism in the world; global warming and natural catastrophes. The decision of International Olympic Committee to hold Olympic Games in Sochi is mentioned by respondents not only among the main events worldwide (2%), but also among the main cultural (1%) and sports (16%) events of the year.
The main economic issues of the year are on the one hand an increase in prices and inflation (17%), on the other an increase in the wages of public sector employees and pensions (12%), apart from that, respondents spoke of the development of social programs, the realization of national projects, economic revival, the stabilization of the ruble, an increase in GDP (3-4%).
Respondents mentioned opening of exhibitions, museums, etc. as the major events in the cultural life of Russia (3%), others spoke of new Russian movies ("The Island", "Simple Things", etc.), "Eurovision" Song Contest (2% for each option). The "Glacial age" TV show on the First channel appeared in two lists at the same time as the significant cultural and sports event (on 1 %).
What all-Russia events of the last year attracted your attention most? (free-answer question, any number of options) | |
Price increase, inflation | 3 |
Proclaiming D. Medvedev as the presidential contender | 2 |
Change of the government (retirement of M. Fradkov's cabinet) | 2 |
Conflict with Georgia | 1 |
Wage increase for public sector employees, increase in pensions | 1 |
Boris Yeltsin's death | 1 |
Holidays, events in hometown or region | 1 |
TV-shows, victory at Junior Eurovision song contest | 1 |
Accidents, catastrophes, terrorist attacks | 1 |
Economic growth | 1 |
Other | 3 |
Hard to say | 84 |
There happened to be many events in Russian politics in 2007. Please specify three of them that you think are the most important for the country (free-answer question, up to three options) | |
Elections to the State Duma | 44 |
Proclaiming D. Medvedev as the presidential contender, settling the issue | 8 |
Proclaiming V. Zubkov Prime Minister, changes in the Cabinet | 5 |
Proclaiming V. Putin Prime Minister | 1 |
The decision of the International Olympic Committee to hold Olympic Games in Sochi | 1 |
The victory of "Unified Russia" in the elections | 1 |
M. Zurabov's retirement | 1 |
Work on national projects | 1 |
Increase in pensions and wages | 1 |
Putin's support of "Unified Russia" in the elections | 1 |
The "Great 8" summit | 1 |
Other variant | 1 |
Hard to say | 46 |
Please name three world events of the expiring year that you consider to be the most important (free-answer question, up to three options) | |
The Kosovo issue | 4 |
Continuation of the war in Iraq | 3 |
Strengthening Russia's grounds in the international arena | 2 |
Appointing the new presidential elections in Georgia | 2 |
Elections to Supreme Rada of the Ukraine | 2 |
Acts of terrorism all over the world | 2 |
Entry of new countries into Schengen zone | 2 |
The decision of International Olympic Committee to hold Olympic Games in Sochi | 2 |
Global warming and natural catastrophes | 2 |
The plans that the USA had to allocate interceptor missiles in Poland and the Czech Republic | 1 |
The „Great 8" Summit | 1 |
Electing the new President in France | 1 |
Trouble, strikes in France | 1 |
The issue of Iraq´s nuclear program | 1 |
The conflict around the bronze soldier in Estonia | 1 |
The dollar´s fall | 1 |
Renewal of meat supplies from Poland | 1 |
NATO expansion to the East | 1 |
Hockey World Championship | 1 |
Presidential election 2008 in Russia and parliamentary elections 2007 | 1 |
Other option | 1 |
Hard to say | 77 |
Please, name three economic and social events of the expired year in Russia that you consider to be the most important (A free-answer question, up to three options) | |
An increase in prices and inflation | 17 |
An increase in the wages of public sector employees and pensions | 12 |
Development of social programs (federal subsidies for multiple-child families, etc.) | 4 |
Realization of national projects (public health services, education, housing, agriculture) | 3 |
Economic revival, stabilization of the ruble, an increase in GDP | 3 |
The dollar´s fall | 1 |
Expansion of mortgage lending | 1 |
Increase in rent and housing and public utilities fee schedule | 1 |
Other option | 2 |
Hard to say | 63 |
Please, name three cultural events of the expired year in Russia that you consider to be the most important (A free-answer question, up to three options) | |
Opening of exhibitions, museums, etc. | 3 |
New Russian movies ("The Island", "Simple Things", etc.) | 2 |
Eurovision" Song Contest | 2 |
The year of China in Russia | 1 |
The return of M. Rostropovich´s collection to Russia | 1 |
Moscow international film festival | 1 |
Sochi film festival „Kinotavr" | 1 |
The "Glacial age" TV show on the First channel | 1 |
The "Minutes of Fame" TV show on the First channel | 1 |
The decision of International Olympic Committee to hold Olympic Games in Sochi | 1 |
Golden gramophone ceremony | 1 |
Eldar Ryazanov´s 80th and other anniversaries | 1 |
Teffi ceremony | 1 |
Deaths of the prominent culture workers | 1 |
Other variant | 0 |
Hard to say | 85 |
Please, name three sports events of the expired year in Russia that you consider to be the most important (A free-answer question, up to three options) | |
The fact that Team Russia entered the final of the European football championship | 18 |
The decision of International Olympic Committee to hold Olympic Games in Sochi | 16 |
The fact that „Zenit" from St. Petersburg won the national football championship | 5 |
Carrying out the First Chanel Hockey Cup | 2 |
The victory of the man´s and woman´s teams in the European basketball and volleyball championships | 2 |
Our sportsmen´s victory in biathlon | 1 |
Carrying out the Kremlin Tennis Cup | 1 |
The "Glacial age" TV show on the First channel | 1 |
Russian Team´s successful performance at the World Hockey Championship | 1 |
Other track records of our sportsmen | 2 |
Other option | 0 |
Hard to say | 59 |