More than half of Russians forecast strengthening of sanctions against Russia.
MOSCOW, April 25, 2018. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of a study devoted to sanction policies of the Western countries against Russia.
News stories about Western sanctions have become an integral part of our lives: 61% of Russians have an interest in this topic; however older generations are more interested (78% among persons aged 60 and over) than young respondents (42% of the 18-24-year-olds).
Russians have ambiguous opinions on the effects of anti-Russian sanctions: 28% consider that sanctions do harm, 30% say they have positive impact on Russia. At the same time, when it comes to the families, more Russians express similar opinions: three-quarters of Russians (77%) say that their families have not experienced any consequences of anti-Russian sanction policies.
Seventy-three percent of respondents have heard of a new round of sanctions; 53% regard it as an attempt to influence Russian foreign policy; 25% say sanctions are aimed at fighting business competitors. More than half of Russians (55%) expect strengthening of sanctions within a year; only 14% say the pressure might be weakened.
The VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on April 12-13, 2018. The survey involved 2,000 Russians aged 18 and over, 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 2.2%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
The 2015-2016 results are based on household surveys.
Due to Russia’s position on Ukraine and Syria, certain Western counties have been imposing political and economic sanctions against Russia over the recent four years. Are you personally interested in related news related to sanctions? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
Likely interested | 61 | 42 | 45 | 52 | 70 | 78 |
Likely not interested | 37 | 54 | 53 | 46 | 29 | 20 |
Don’t know | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Speaking in general, have the sanctions had any impact on the situation in Russia? If yes, what kind of impact?* (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | ||||||
| II.2015 | XI.2015 | VI.2016 | III.2017 | VII.2017 | IV.2018 |
Sanctions have led to negative consequences | 52 | 47 | 39 | 27 | 26 | 28 |
Sanctions have led to positive consequences | 17 | 21 | 19 | 35 | 35 | 30 |
Sanction have not changed anything | 22 | 22 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 30 |
Don’t know | 9 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 12 |
In February 2015, the question was “Amidst the conflict in Ukraine, certain countries have imposed sanctions against Russia. In your opinion, have these sanctions had any impact on Russia?”. In November 2015, the question was “The Crimea’s incorporation into the Russian territory and Russia’s support for Donbas insurgents have led to new economic sanctions imposed by the Western countries against Russia. In your opinion, what impact have these sanctions had on Russia?”. In 2016-2017, the question was “Due to controversial situation in the Crimea and Ukraine, certain Western counties imposed political and economic sanctions against Russia three years ago. In your opinion, what impact have these sanctions had on Russia?”.
Has your family experienced any consequences of sanctions or not. If yes, what kind of consequences? (open-ended question, not more than three answers, % of all respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
None | 77 |
Increase in prices | 6 |
Fall in living standards/fall in income; income has stagnated | 6 |
Inflation | 3 |
Problems leaving Russia | 2 |
Various problems at work | 1 |
Certain goods have disappeared | 1 |
Loss of job/Unemployment | 1 |
Purchasing capacity has fallen | 1 |
Import substitution | 1 |
Domestic appliances | 1 |
Tourism got expensive | 1 |
Rise in petrol prices | 1 |
Increase of utilities tariffs | 1 |
Quality of products has deteriorated | 1 |
Other | 2 |
Don’t know | 4 |
Last week the USA imposed new sanctions against 24 Russians and 14 Russian companies. Do you know about that/ have you heard for the first time? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
Yes, I know | 73 | 53 | 59 | 68 | 81 | 84 |
I have heard of that for the first time | 27 | 47 | 41 | 32 | 19 | 16 |
In your opinion, what is the basic aim of new sanctions? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
To influence Russian external policies, to make Russia more concessive | 53 |
To limit Russian business operations, to weaken business competitors | 25 |
To punish certain persons for the crimes they committed | 8 |
Don’t know | 14 |
In your opinion, over the next year will the Western countries intensify/weaken/keep anti-Russian sanctions at the same level? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | ||||
| Total respondents | Persons using the Internet almost every day | Persons using the Internet several times per week/per month | Persons using the Internet occasionally or never use it |
Likely to intensify | 55 | 59 | 50 | 48 |
Likely to weaken | 14 | 13 | 19 | 16 |
Likely to keep them at the same level | 18 | 18 | 17 | 20 |
Don’t know | 13 | 10 | 14 | 16 |
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!