Interfax: Russians say Crimea situation legal, Western opinion doesn’t bother them – poll

Ukraine Map and Flag

(Interfax – November 21, 2014) Most Russians approve of the Crimean affiliation to Russia and the negative attitude of Ukraine and the West does not bother them, the Levada Center told Interfax.

Eighty-four percent of 1,600 respondents polled in 134 populated localities on November 14-17 supported the Crimean accession to Russia, 11 percent opposed the act and 6 percent were undecided.

In the opinion of most respondents (78 percent), Russia did not breach post-Soviet and post-war international treaties and laws in the Crimea situation. The opposite opinion was expressed by 10 percent and 12 percent failed to answer the question.

Two-thirds of Russians (66 percent) think there is no reason to worry about the Ukrainian and Western opinion that the Crimean accession to Russia is a violation of international accords. Twenty percent are concerned about the Western reaction, and 13 percent are undecided.

Over half of Russians (52 percent) claim that the United States and the European Union are shaping Ukrainian policy; 22 percent allege the influence of oligarchs, 18 percent say the country is ruled by Ukrainian nationalists and 4 percent say it is governed by the Ukrainian people. Five percent could not give a definite answer.

Most respondents (77 percent) are sure that the conflict between Russia and the West “was pushed on Russia by the U.S. and other Western nations.” Twenty-two percent believe that tensions were created by the Crimean accession to Russia and the Russian policy in the conflict in southeastern Ukraine. Eight percent were undecided.

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

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