MOSCOW, February 15, 2008 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information on how Russians estimate the deed of Vitaly Kaloev, who killed the flying control officer in Switzerland that was to blame for the air crash that had taken the lives of the whole Kaloev's family and also what they think of appointing Kaloev Deputy Minister of Construction in Northern Ossetia

Nearly half of Russians, 44%, identify that Kaloev is a criminal but still deserves indulgence in view of the factual background. Every fourth respondent (27%) thinks of him not as a criminal, but rather as the real man, who has taken revenge in the name of his family and does not deserve to be punished. No more than 8% of respondents indicate, that he has committed a crime and should suffer the punishment with all severity of the law. Every fifth (21%) finds it hard to provide an answer to this question. The point of view that blood feud in this case is not a crime finds more understanding in Southern (39%), Far East (33%) and Volga (30%) federal districts.

The fact that Kaloev was appointed Deputy Minister of Construction of Northern Ossetia after his jail release from the Swiss prison, has received an ambiguous reaction in the Russian society. 29% of respondents believe that it is a well-deserved reward to a worthy person, an encouragement to the real man. Nearly as many respondents (26%), however, specify that an appointment like that given to a criminal challenges the moral and legal norms and discredits Russia in the eyes of the Europeans. Nearly half of respondents find it hard to provide an answer to this question.

Regional differences in the estimation of this decision done by the authorities of Northern Ossetia are worth mentioning. Residents of Southern (41% versus 17%), Far East (35% versus 27%) and Central (30% versus 23%) federal districts are more likely to favourKaloev’s appointment. However, residents of Ural (36% versus 18 %), Siberian (31% versus 18%) and North West (29% versus 25%) districts provide negative estimations more often. The estimations of people living in Volga FD were split into two equal parts (29% in each of the two groups).

To conclude, the overwhelming majority of respondents (65%) consider Kaloev to be an unfortunate person, a prey of circumstances. 8% call him a criminal, and 5% think of him as a hero, a model to be followed and imitated.

The initiative all-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM on January 8-9, 2008. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%