Russia’s North Caucasus, Islamists seen as main terrorist threats – poll
(Interfax – September 7, 2013) A majority of Russians (55 per cent) are confident, to greater or lesser extent, that the authorities are able to protect the public from new terrorist attacks, Russian Interfax news agency reported on 3 September, quoting the All-Russia Public Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM). (1)
This answer has become more popular over the past three years – in September 2011, only 32 per cent shared this view. The percentage of people who think the authorities cannot protect the population against new terrorist attacks has dropped from 57 per cent two years ago to 38 per cent in 2013.
Far more Russians see positive changes in the fight against terrorism (43 per cent) than negative (8 per cent). At the same time, a significant number of the respondents believe that there have been no changes in this area over the last year (44 per cent).
According to the poll, the North Caucasus and the Islamists are seen as two major sources of the terrorist threat (10 per cent each). The Russians also mentioned the USA (7 per cent) and migrants (6 per cent). Twenty-six per cent of those polled do not see any terrorist threat to Russian citizens today.
The poll was conducted among 1,600 people in 130 towns and villages in 42 Russian regions on 24-25 August.