The data of the Sputnik daily omnibus survey show that the Western sanctions policy has not achieved its goals: Russians have adapted to the current situation and do not expect that the authorities will seek opportunities to lift sanctions
MOSCOW, March 17, 2017. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of a survey describing the attitudes of Russians towards sanctions imposed by Western countries against Russia.
After the peak values in the beginning of 2015, there was a decrease in the Russian anxiety over Western sanctions. Today the share of Russians who think that the situation in Russia exacerbated due to sanctions makes up 27%, compared to 52% of those who thought so two years ago. At the same time, more respondents mention positive effects: over the same period the percentage has increased from 17% to 35%. Currently a third of Russians (32%) consider that sanction policies have had no impact on the life in the society.
A similar trend is observed in Russian assessments of the impact of sanctions on people: 17% of respondents see certain consequences for themselves and their relatives (45% in 2015), and they complain mainly about the price increase and deterioration in financial situation (66%). More than three quarters of respondents (79%) do not experience any consequences (but this percentage is lower than it was in August 2014 – 92%).
Today three-quarters of Russians (76% in 2017 vs. 57% in 2015) think that Russia should not try to achieve the lifting of sanctions as they harm both Russian and those countries that imposed them (so the sanctions will soon be cancelled by those countries). Only 18% of respondents think that certain measures should be taken to make Western countries lift restrictions (as their economic consequences are severe).
As the VCIOM-Sputnik daily omnibus survey data suggest, more than half of Russians (59%, an all-time high) are ready to tolerate hardships in the current economic situation to keep Russian foreign policy in Ukraine going. Thirty-four percent of Russians oppose them (46% of LDPR supporters; 48% of those who assess their financial situation as bad or very bad).
The Medialogia Company has analyzed 2.5 mln mentions devoted to the sanction topic in the Russian media since 2014. The media reported about sanctions imposed on Russia as well as retaliatory sanctions. Ban on the import of certain foods into Russia was also massively discussed in the media. The lifting of sanctions was also among popular headlines.
The VCIOM-Sputnik initiative all-Russian survey was conducted on March 2-3, 2017, using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia, and involved 1200 respondents. Russians aged 18 and over took part in the survey. 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 3.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
In 2014-2016, household surveys were carried out.
The Russian mass media analysis and monitoring of publication were carried out by the Medialogia Company using the Medialogia database including 39100 sources such as television, radio, newspaper, information agencies and online media. The period of study took place from January 2014 to March 2017.
Due to contradictory situation in Crimea and Ukraine certain Western countries imposed political and economic sanctions against Russia three years ago. In your opinion, what impact have these sanctions had on Russia? closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||||
| III.2014* | II.2015** | XI.2015*** | VI.2016 | III.2017 |
Sanctions have had negative consequences and exacerbated the situation in Russia | 25 | 52 | 47 | 39 | 27 |
Sanctions have had positive consequences and improved the situation in Russia | 13 | 17 | 21 | 19 | 35 |
Sanctions have not changed anything; everything is the same | 50 | 22 | 22 | 32 | 32 |
Don’t know | 12 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 6 |
*the question was as follows: “Due to contradictory situation in Crimea, some Western countries may impose political and economic sanctions against Russia. If these sanctions are accepted, what impact will they have on Russia?
**the question was as follows: “Amid Ukrainian conflict, certain countries have imposed sanctions against Russia. In your opinion, what impact have these sanctions had on Russia?”
*** the question was as follows: “Reunification of Russia and Crimea and support for the Donbass insurgents have led to economic sanctions imposed by Western countries. In your opinion, what impact have these sanctions had on Russia?”
Have you/your relatives experienced any impact of sanctions against Russia? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||
| VIII.2014 | II.2015 | VI.2016 | III.2017 |
Yes | 5 | 45 | 24 | 17 |
No | 92 | 50 | 71 | 79 |
Don’t know | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
If you experienced any impact, what kind of impact was that? (open-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who heard about sanctions against Russia and experienced the impact of sanctions personally) | ||||
| VIII.2014 | II.2015 | VI.2016 | III.2017 |
Price increase, decline in purchasing power, deterioration in financial situation/fall in living standards | 77 | 85 | 74 | 66 |
Many goods disappeared | 0 | 4 | 8 | 13 |
Redundancy, decrease/delays in paying salaries | 0 | 8 | 14 | 9 |
Problems getting visas/ban on travelling abroad, to Ukraine | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
Unemployment, loss of job including job in a foreign company | 6 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Dollar/euro exchange rate increase | 0 | 5 | 2 | 5 |
Business problems/loss of business | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
More Russian-produced goods appeared on the shelves; development of agricultural and industrial production | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Problems in national economy | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
Increase in loan and mortgage interest rates | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Account freeze, card lock | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Cancellation of Dobrolet Company flights | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Low pension ("pension was not indexed") | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Problems with imported medicines | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Cut/cancellation of benefits/bonuses/compensations | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Deterioration in health / Psychological consequences | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
State programs of import substitution (“sharp increase in competitiveness of the national producers”) | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Other | 17 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
In your opinion, should Russia achieve the lifting of sanctions imposed by Western countries? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||
| II.2015 | VI.2016 | III.2017 |
Yes, Russia should achieve the lifting of sanctions; their negative effects for the Russian economy are substantial | 33 | 27 | 18 |
No, Russia should not achieve the lifting of sanctions; they are equally harmful for us and for the Western countries, so the Western countries will lift them soon | 57 | 61 | 76 |
Don’t know | 10 | 12 | 6 |
Are you ready to stay patient in today’s economic situation and to show tolerance for the economic difficulties to keep Russian foreign policy in Ukraine going on? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||
| I.2015 | IX.2015 | VI.2016 | III.2017 |
Definitely ready | 20 | 23 | 21 | 24 |
Rather ready | 32 | 28 | 29 | 35 |
Rather not ready | 20 | 20 | 16 | 20 |
Definitely not ready | 14 | 17 | 19 | 14 |
Don’t know | 14 | 12 | 15 | 7 |
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! The use of the Medialogia system content, fully or partially, must be accompanied by the reference to the Medialogia Company.