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IN BRIEF

Russians regard Kazakhstan as the most reliable partner of Russia among the CIS countries (37%). The leader of the previous year Belarus is ranked second (23%). 

MOSCOW, December 13, 2010. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of the yearly study describing which countries Russians think are most reliable for Russia.

According to Russians, Kazakhstan is the most stable and successful country among the CIS states (34%, a year ago - 29%), followed by Belarus which was the leader a year ago (from 41 to 31%). The third place is held by Ukraine which has strengthened its position (from 5 to 19%). This is followed by Armenia (9%), Azerbaijan (6%), Moldavia and Turkmenistan (5% for each), Uzbekistan and Georgia (3% for each). Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan was assessed as being least stable states (2% and 1% respectively).

Kazakhstan is regarded to be the most reliable partner of Russia among the CIS states (37%); the share of such respondents has increased over the recent year (from 31% in 2009). The previous leader Belarus is mentioned rarer (from 43 to 23%). On the contrary, Ukraine`s position has considerably strengthened having reached the third place (from 4% to 21%). The rest CIS counties are mentioned much rarer such as Armenia (6%), Moldavia (4%), Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan (3% for each), Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan (2% for each). And only 1% of Russians trust Georgia and Tajikistan.

The president of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev holds the leading position among the leaders of the CIS countries (32%)followed by V. Yanukovich on the second place (17%) - his rating is much higher compared to the rating of the previous Ukrainian leader V.Yuschenko (3%). Vice versa, the Belarus leader A.Lukashenko was ranked lower (from 33 to 16%). They are followed by the president of Azerbaijan Ilkham Aliev (5%), the president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan  (4%), the president of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, the president of Kyrgyzstan Roza Otunbaeva, the president of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov - they are trusted by only 2% of Russians (for each). Least reliable leaders are the leader of Moldavia Mikhai Gimpu, the leader of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and the leader of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili - only 1% of Russians (per each) trust them.

Asked what CIS country ensures political, social, civil and other rights of the Russian-speaking population, Russians pointed out Belarus (27%), Kazakhstan (21%)and Ukraine (17%). Remarkably, compared to 2009, twice less Russians mentioned Belarus (47% in 2009), and much more Russians mentioned Ukraine (6% in 2009). Other countries of the CIS scored not more than 5%.

Asked if they are interested to know more about the history and culture of the CIS countries, most of respondents said they were attracted by the culture and history of Ukraine, Belarus (15% for each) and Kazakhstan (14%). Respondents are also interested in the cultural heritage of Armenia (12%) and Moldavia (10%).

The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on 23-24 October, 2010. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

Which CIS country would you call the most reliable partner of Russia in the international arena?

 (close-ended question, not more than three answers)

 

2010

2009

Kazakhstan

37

31

Belarus

23

43

Ukraine

21

4

Armenia

6

8

Moldavia

4

3

Azerbaijan

3

6

Uzbekistan

3

3

Kyrgyzstan

2

3

Turkmenistan

2

3

Tajikistan

1

2

Georgia

1

1

Hard to tell

34

34

Which of the following countries do you think are most stable and successful?
(close-ended question, not more than three answers)

 

2010

2009

Kazakhstan

34

29

Belarus

31

41

Ukraine

19

5

Armenia

9

8

Azerbaijan

6

9

Turkmenistan

5

6

Moldavia

5

5

Uzbekistan

3

4

Georgia

3

3

Kyrgyzstan

2

5

Tajikistan

1

2

Hard to tell

33

37

 

 

Who of the following leaders of the CIS countries do you trust most?
(close-ended question, not more than three answers)

 

2010

2009

Nazarbaev Nursultan (President of Kazakhstan)

32

28

Yanukovich Viktor (President of Ukraine)

17

 

Yuschenko Viktor (President of Ukraine in 2009)

 

3

Lukashenko Aleksandr (President of Belarus)

16

33

Aliev Ilkham (President of Azerbaijan)

5

6

Sargsyan Serzh (President of Armenia)

4

3

Berdymukhamedov Gurbanguly (President of Turkmenistan)

2

5

Karimov Islam (President of Uzbekistan)

2

5

Otunbaeva Roza (President of Kyrgyzstan in transition period)

2

 

Bakiyev Kurmanbek (President of Kyrgyzstan in 2009)

 

4

Gimpu Mikhai (acting president of Moldovia)

1

2

Rakhmon Emamali (President of Tajikistan)

1

2

Saakashvili Mikhail (President of Georgia)

1

1

Hard to tell

43

41

Which of the following countries ensures the rights (political, social, civil and other rights) of the Russian-speaking population most?

 (close-ended question, not more than three answers)

 

2010

2009

Belarus

27

48

Kazakhstan

21

18

Ukraine

17

6

Armenia

5

7

Moldavia

4

4

Uzbekistan

2

1

Azerbaijan

2

2

Tajikistan

1

2

Georgia

1

1

Turkmenistan

1

1

Kyrgyzstan

1

3

Hard to tell

45

37

Would you like to know more about the history, culture, places of interest of the following countries?

(close-ended question, not more than three answers)

 

2010

2009

Belarus

15

16

Ukraine

15

6

Kazakhstan

14

11

Armenia

12

11

Moldavia

10

7

Georgia

8

5

Azerbaijan

6

5

Uzbekistan

6

6

Turkmenistan

5

6

Tajikistan

4

4

Kyrgyzstan

3

4

Hard to tell

44

52

 

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.

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