Interfax: Number of patriots in Russia falls by almost 10% in six years – poll

MOSCOW. Nov 19 (Interfax) – Most Russians say they are patriotic but their number is declining year after year, sociologists said.

The percentage stood at 78% in 2007; it has fallen to 69% this year, Levada Center told Interfax, presenting the outcomes of regular surveys done in 130 towns and cities in 45 regions.

Some 19% of the respondents did not call themselves patriotic. There were 12% of respondents were unpatriotic six years ago.

Most Russians (59%) define patriotism as love for one’s country. The opinion was shared by 66% of respondents in 2007.

A fifth of the respondents (21%) say it is patriotic to defend one’s country “from any attacks and accusations”, “to seek an improvement of life in that country” and “to think that one’s own country is the best.”

The number of respondents who think that patriotism means “work for the benefit and prosperity of the country” has shrunk from 27% to 21%.

A tenth of the respondents (11%) said that patriotic people always told the truth about their country, “no matter how bitter that truth might be”, and 6% argued that patriots believed their country had no flaws.

The total was larger than 100%, as respondents were free to choose several answers.

A quarter of the respondents (24%) in the October poll held by Levada Center said that patriotic feelings had grown lately, 24% claimed the opposite, 37% did not see any change, and 15% were hesitant to say.