Interfax: Most Russians see no need to participate in protest rallies – poll

MOSCOW. Nov 14 (Interfax) – The protest potential of Russian citizens dropped considerably in the past eight years and they are more eager to participate in large-scale demonstrations against falling living standards than in those advocating political issues, a poll showed.

In 2005 a total of 23% were ready to engage in protest rallies, while only 17% are ready now, sociologists of the Levada Center told Interfax following long-term researches.

The majority of Russians (75%) would not participate in protests now if they are held in their city or region and 63% shared the same stance eight years ago, the poll showed. The survey was held in late October among 1,603 respondents in 130 cities, towns and villages in 45 Russian regions.

A total of 24% executives and managers, 22% unemployed, 21% workers, 19% males, 19% Russians aged between 40 and 54, 20% with specialized secondary education, 20% with low consumer status, 19% of Moscow residents and 19% of citizens in big cities with a population of 1000,000 to 500,000 said they were ready to protest.

When asked how probable large-scale demonstrations against falling standards of living and in defense of their rights, 68% Russians said it was unlikely, while 26% believe such a scenario is quite realistic.

In the past year the possibility of protests concerned with economic demands fell by four percentage points (from 30% in 2012), while the probability of politically motivated protests remained unchanged (23%).

Most Russian citizens do not find it necessary to engage in street rallies with political motives (78%) and if such rallies are held, 70% would not participate in them, sociologists said.