Not many Russians consider Russian-Georgian relations neighborly – poll

Tblisi, Georgia, File Photo with Building with Tower on Hillside and City Buildings in Valley in Distance

(Interfax – MOSCOW, August 29, 2013) Russian citizens give a less negative assessment of Russian-Georgian relations than seven years ago, sociologists said following the poll held.

Over a third (35-39%) said in 2006 that Russian-Georgian relations were tense and 22% support this stance now. The share of those thinking that the relations of the two countries are hostile decreased from 14-18% to 5%. Meanwhile, more respondents said that relations were fine – 24% against 9% in 2006, the Russian Public Opinion Study Center (VTsIOM) experts told Interfax.

Not many Russians shared a positive assessment of the relations between Moscow and Tbilisi: 2% think the relations are friendly and 4% – neighborly.

The majority of Russian citizens (52%) think that the position of Russia in the world after the events in South Ossetia in August 2008 did not change, 21% say it improved and 15% that it deteriorated. Russians did not have a clear opinion in September 2008 what affect the events in South Ossetia would have on Russia’s international standing – 29% thought they would have negative impact and 23% had the opposite opinion.

Moscow and St. Petersburg residents (73%) are the ones most certain that the position of Russia following the events in South Ossetia sustained no changes. Twenty-seven percent of those living in cities with population over one million say there is improvement and people living in mid-sized cities (20%) express the opposite viewpoint.

The survey was held in late July. A total of 1,600 people in 130 settlements in 42 regions, territories and republics were polled.

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