Russians are divided in their opinions about the coup d’état in Turkey.
MOSCOW, August 8, 2016. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the data of the survey describing how Russians assess the Turkish coup attempt, and what position Russia should take in this situation.
Russians are interested to know about the situation in Turkey: 60% keep up with the situation, but only 16% track the news regularly, and 44% - from time to time.
The Russians are generally negative about the Turkish authorities: they feel distrust (24%), disappointment (14%), condemnation (12%, et cet. However, as to recent developments, every tenth respondent (10%) feels sympathy. Thirty-two percent are neutral.
According to 19% of respondents, the coup d’état in Turkey was organized by the Turkish servicemen; 17% say it was initiated by Western intelligence agencies. Twelve percent mention the Turkish president; 12% - Radical islamists.
Seventy-seven percent of Russians consider that Russia should be neutral in this situation. The share of those who think that Russia should support Erdogan is 14%; only 3% favor the opposition.
As to the policy that Russia should take regarding Turkey facing internal crisis, Russian opinions are ambiguous: 36% say that it is important to abandon certain requirements and restore bilateral relations; they are opposed by 39% who think that Russian government should step up pressure on the Turkish authorities to make them fulfill the requirements.
The VCIOM survey was carried out on July 23-24, 2016 in 130 settlements, 46 regions and 9 federal districts of Russia. The sample size involved 1600 persons. The survey was conducted with multi-stage stratified sample based on general rule of walking and quotas at the final selection stage; the sample is representative of the Russian population aged 18 and over, according to sex, age, education, type of settlement. The margin of error (taking into account the design effect) with 95% confidence interval does not exceed 3.5%. The survey method is community-based formalized face-to-face interviews. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the field work can introduce bias into the survey.
Do you keep track of the political developments in Turkey today? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over | |
Yes, very attentively | 16 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 17 | 33 | |
Yes, from time to time | 44 | 40 | 40 | 47 | 49 | 40 | |
No | 39 | 52 | 49 | 42 | 33 | 26 | |
Don’t know | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
The Turkish mass media report a coup d’état in the country. But the information is very controversial. In your opinion, who is the organizer of this coup d’état? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||
| Total respondents | |
Turkish servicemen | 19 | |
Western intelligence agencies | 17 | |
President Erdogan | 12 | |
Radical Islamists | 12 | |
Other | 4 | |
Don’t know | 36 | |
What feelings do the Turkish authorities evoke in you? (closed-ended question, not more than two answers, %) | ||
| Total respondents | |
Negative | ||
Distrust | 24 | |
Disappointment | 14 | |
Condemnation | 12 | |
Dislike | 8 | |
Hatred | 4 | |
Skepsis | 4 | |
Malevolence | 2 | |
Positive | ||
Sympathy | 10 | |
Hope | 3 | |
Respect | 1 | |
Trust | 1 | |
Liking | 1 | |
Admiration | 0 | |
Love | 0 | |
Neutral | ||
Indifference | 32 | |
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Don’t know | 11 | |
In your opinion, who Russia should support in this situation – President Erdogan or his opponents? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||||
| Total respondents | A Just Russia party | Supporters of LDPR | Supporters of CPRF | Supporters of United Russia party | Supporters of non-parliamentary parties | I would not take part in elections | |
President Erdogan | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 27 | 8 | |
Opposition | 3 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 1 | |
Neutrality should be preserved; it is Turkey’s business | 67 | 67 | 70 | 67 | 68 | 60 | 68 | |
Don’t know | 16 | 17 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 9 | 23 | |
Due to Turkish coup attempt the situation in Turkey is difficult, the position of the Turkish authorities is unstable. Which of the following statements do you most agree with? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||
| Total respondents | Men | Women | |
It is important to help Turkish authorities to improve the relations with Russia, even if Russia will have to refuse some requirements to Turkey | 36 | 33 | 37 | |
It is important to use the weakness of the Turkish authorities, to strengthen the pressure on Turkey, to make Turkey implement all Russian requirements | 39 | 43 | 35 | |
Don’t know | 25 | 24 | 28 | |
Note: Using materials from the websites 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.