Most of Russians believe support for Ukraine separatists to cause economic crisis, still support government actions

(Business New Europe/IntelliNews – bne.eu – November 12, 2014)

More than half of Russians now believe that the annexation of Crimea and Russia’s support for separatists in eastern Ukraine will lower their standard of living and cause an economic crisis in Russia, but even so they continue to back their government’s actions, according to survey by the Levada Center.

The results show that 61% of respondents anticipate an economic crisis and lower living standards, with 56% considering these the direct outcome of Russia’s actions in Ukraine Ñ up from 45% in a survey in July. The number of Russians who have noticed the price of select goods imported from the U.S. or EU rising has nearly doubled, climbing from 35% in a survey in August to 64% in October.

Food sanctions and rapid devaluation of the ruble have sent prices rocketing over recent months, with year-on-year inflation rising to 8% in September and 8.3% in October, according to data from Rosstat.

However, the vast majority of Russians still approve of the food bans, although support fell to 73% in the latest survey from a high of 78% in August.

Alexei Grazhdankin, deputy director of the Levada Center, interviewed by business daily Vedomosti, said Russians do not hold the food import bans responsible for high inflation. They place the blame for speeding inflation on the West Ñ not on their government or President Vladimir Putin, whose actions they consider “sensible and appropriate in the context of sanctions against Russia,” Grazhdankin said.

According to another Levada Center survey published Monday, 86% of Russians still support the annexation of Crimea.