Interfax: Half of Russians back independence of South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Transdniestria

September 21, 2015 JRL Russia List Azerbaijan, South Caucasus, Georgia, Moldova

(Interfax – September 21, 2015)

Half of Russians deem Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be independent states and think that these republics and Transdniestria should have formal independent status, the Levada Center has told Interfax.

According to the poll of 800 respondents held in 134 populated localities in 46 regions on August 21-24, practically half (47 percent) of respondents see South Ossetia as an independent state. The same opinion was expressed about Abkhazia by 49 percent of respondents.

In the opinion of 10 percent and 9 percent of respondents, respectively, South Ossetia and Abkhazia are parts of Georgia. A fifth (21 percent) regard South Ossetia as a part of Russia, and 20 percent say that Abkhazia is a Russian territory. Twenty-two percent and 21 percent, respectively, were undecided.

Almost 50 percent of respondents think that South Ossetia (48 percent) and Abkhazia (47 percent) should be independent. Seven percent and 8 percent, respectively, believe that these republics should be incorporated by Georgia. Another 23 percent and 22 percent, respectively, think that South Ossetia and Abkhazia should enter into Russia. Twenty-three percent are unable to answer the question.

Speaking of the consequences of Russia’s recognition of independent South Ossetia and Abkhazia, 23 percent percent said that it did good to the country, and 10 percent claimed the opposite. Almost 50 percent (47 percent) think that the recognition of independent South Ossetia and Abkhazia was neither good nor bad for Russia. Twenty percent failed to give a definite answer.

As to the best status for Transdniestria, 49 percent said it should become an independent state, 17 percent suggested that the region should stay within Moldova, and 34 percent were undecided.

Forty-two percent believe that Nagorno-Karabakh should also be independent; 10 percent suggest that the region belongs to Azerbaijan, and 9 percent suggest that it belongs to Armenia. Thirty-nine percent are undecided.