Almost half of Russians feel international isolation – poll
(Interfax – December 8, 2014) Russians differ on whether Russia is currently in international isolation: 47 percent of the respondents surveyed by the Levada Center said they believe Russia is now in international isolation and 45 percent believe it is not.
The poll, which surveys 1,600 respondents, was conducted in 134 populated areas of Russia on November 21-24.
Over half of the respondents who believe that Russia is currently in international isolation (63 percent) are concerned about this situation, while about one-third (35 percent) are not concerned about it.
Responding to a question as to whether the Western sanctions have had any impact on the Russian administration’s policies, 47 percent of the respondents said this influence is considerable and 34 percent said it is insignificant. Twelve percent of respondents (12 percent) said they believe Western sanctions have had no impact on the Russian authorities’ policies and 8 percent were undecided.
The respondents were also asked about their attitude to some countries. The survey showed that Russians’ opinions about the U.S., the European Union and Ukraine have changed considerably
Eighteen percent of respondents (against 43 percent in January) said their attitude to the U.S. is good, while 74 percent of respondents (against 44 percent) said their attitude to the U.S. is bad.
Twenty-six percent of respondents (against 51 percent in January) said their attitude to the EU is good, while 63 percent (against 34 percent in January) said their attitude to the EU is bad.
The respondents’ attitude to Ukraine has also changed for the worse: 28 percent of the respondents (against 66 percent in January) said their attitude towards Ukraine is good, while 59 percent (against 26 percent) said their attitude towards Ukraine is bad.
Eighty-seven percent of respondents said their attitude towards Belarus is good and 7 percent said it is bad, 53 percent said their attitude towards Georgia is good (33 percent said it is bad), 60 percent said their attitude towards Israel is good (21 percent said it is bad), and 74 percent said their attitude towards China is good (13 percent said it is bad).