The share of respondents who see positive impacts of anti-Russian sanctions (economic development and import substitution) overweighs the number of those who notice negative impacts.
MOSCOW, June 20, 2018. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a survey devoted to anti-Russian sanctions.
Most of Russians keep an eye on sanctions: 57% have interest in sanction-related news. However, there is an imbalance in age groups: the younger the respondents, the more interested they are (an increase from 77% in the group of those aged 60 and over to 31% in the group of those aged 18-24).
The impact of sanctions on the Russian economy is assessed ambiguously: 34% of respondents report positive impact, 30% negative impact, and 20% do not see any consequences. The major benefits are economic development (50%), import substitution (20%). Increase of prices and taxes is regarded as a disadvantage 22%).
Respondents are more unanimous regarding the impact of anti-Russian sanctions on household well-being: 67% have not noticed any influence. However, the share of those who point to negative consequences is remarkable (24% across sample; 36% in the group of persons who assess their financial well-being as low).
Most of Russians (73%) think Russia should follow the same independent foreign policy paying no attention to sanctions. Seventeen percent of Russians choose concessions to make the Western countries lift anti-Russian sanctions (34% among the 18-24-year-olds; 27% among those disapproving of the presidential work). High consensus of opinions can be explained by the fact that Russians consider that those who suffer from sanctions are countries who implement anti-Russian policies rather than Russia itself (78% vs 32%).
The VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on June 10-11, 2018, and involved 2,000 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. 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
Due to Russia’s position on Ukraine and Syria, certain Western countries have been imposing political and economic sanctions against Russia over the recent four years. Do you personally have interest in news related to sanctions? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| IV.2018 | VI.2018 |
Likely yes | 61 | 57 |
Likely no | 37 | 41 |
Don’t know | 2 | 2 |
Due to Russia’s position on Ukraine and Syria, certain Western countries have been imposing political and economic sanctions against Russia over the recent four years. Do you personally have interest in news related to sanctions? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) VI.2018 | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over |
Likely yes | 57 | 31 | 37 | 50 | 68 | 77 |
Likely no | 41 | 68 | 61 | 47 | 31 | 20 |
Don’t know | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
Speaking in general, have the sanctions had any impact on the Russian economy? If yes, what kind of impact?* (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) VI.2018 | |
| Total respondents |
Likely positive impact; significant impact | 15 |
Likely positive impact; insignificant impact | 19 |
Likely negative impact; insignificant impact | 11 |
Likely negative impact; significant impact | 19 |
No impact | 20 |
Don’t know | 16 |
What positive impacts on the Russian economy have the sanctions led to? (open-ended question, not more than 3 answers, % of those who say that sanctions have had positive impact on the Russian economy) VI.2018 | |
| % of respondents |
Economic development | 50 |
Import substitution | 20 |
Revival throughout the whole country | 4 |
Development of military and industrial complex; increased military capabilities | 4 |
New jobs | 2 |
Development of small and medium-sized business | 2 |
Support for domestic manufacturers | 2 |
New technologies/ innovations | 2 |
National cohesion, patriotism | 2 |
Other | 11 |
Don’t know | 34 |
What negative impact have the sanctions had on the Russian economy? (open-ended question, not more than 3 answers, % of those who say that sanctions have had negative impact on the Russian economy) VI.2018 | |
| % of respondents |
Price/tax increase | 22 |
Economic recession | 9 |
Fewer foreign goods | 7 |
Worsening relationship with the Western countries, Russia’s isolation | 5 |
Dollar exchange rate increase | 5 |
Fall in people’s income | 5 |
Deterioration in quality of life of ordinary citizens | 3 |
Rise in gasoline prices | 3 |
Problems leaving Russia | 3 |
No access to technologies, backwardness in science | 2 |
No export of Russian goods abroad | 2 |
Other | 10 |
Don’t know | 50 |
In your opinion, have the sanctions had any impact on your/your relatives’ well-being? If yes, what kind of impact?* (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) VI.2018 | |
| Total respondents |
Significant impact; positively | 1 |
Insignificant impact; positively | 1 |
Insignificant impact; negatively | 12 |
Significant impact; negatively | 12 |
No impact | 67 |
Don’t know | 7 |
Some experts consider that Russia should not pay attention to sanctions and should pursue tough foreign policy as before. Others believe that the Russian government should seek the lifting of sanctions even if it requires certain concessions in foreign policy. Which opinion do you most agree with? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| IV.2018 | VI.2018 |
Russia should not pay attention to sanctions; it should conduct tough foreign policy as before | 67 | 73 |
Russia should seek the lifting of sanctions even if it requires certain concessions in foreign policy | 20 | 17 |
Don’t know | 13 | 10 |
In your opinion, are the Western sanctions beneficial or harmful…? closed-ended question, one answer per each line, % of total respondents) VI.2018 | |||
| Rather harmful | Rather beneficial | Don’t know |
To Russia | 32 | 50 | 18 |
To those countries which introduced sanctions against Russia | 78 | 7 | 15 |
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!