There has been a positive dynamics in Russia-Georgia relations for the first time over the recent years.
MOSCOW, August 29, 2013. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning the following questions: how the events of the South Ossetia influenced the international position of Russia; how Russians assess the Russia-Georgia relations.
Most of Russians believe that the Russia` position in the international arena has not changed after the 2008 developments in the South Ossetia (52%). The rest of respondents say that the position of Russia has improved (21%), rather than deteriorated (15%). To compare: in September 2008 Russians were divided in their opinion on how the events in the South Ossetia would influence the international position of Russia, however, the share of those who forecast negative consequences was slightly bigger than the share of respondents with the opposite point of view (29% versus 23, respectively).
Those who are confident that Russia`s position after the events in the South Ossetia has not changed are Muscovites and St.Petersburgians (73%). Those who mention positive changes are residents of million cities (27%). They are opposed by respondents living in the middle cities (20%).
Today Russia-Georgia relations are assessed less negatively than seven years ago. In 2006 more than one-third of respondents assessed the relationship as strained (35-39%), today the share of such respondents has decreased – 22%. The number of those who mention hostility has also decreased (from 14-18% to 5%). On the contrary, the share of those who say Russia-Georgia relations are normal has considerably increased compared to 2006 (24% versus 9, respectively). Not too many Russians assess the relations between the two countries as positive: 2% - call them friendly; 4% - good neighborly.
The VCIOM opinion polls were conducted on July 28-29, 2013. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
How would you assess the current relations between Russia and Georgia? (closed-ended question, one answer) | ||||
| October 2003 | February 2006 | September 2006 | July 2013 |
Friendly | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Good, good neighborly | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 |
Normal, calm | 16 | 9 | 9 | 24 |
Cool | 34 | 20 | 23 | 35 |
Strained | 27 | 39 | 35 | 22 |
Hostile | 6 | 18 | 14 | 5 |
Hard to tell | 12 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
In your opinion, will the developments in South Ossetia have impact on Russia`s international position? (closed-ended question, one answer) | In your opinion, what impact did the developments in South Ossetia have on Russia`s international position? (closed-ended question, one answer) | ||
| September 2008 |
| July 2013 |
Russia`s international position will improve | 23 | Russia`s international position improved | 21 |
Russia`s international position will worsen | 29 | Russia`s international position worsened | 15 |
Nothing will change | 32 | Nothing has changed | 52 |
Hard to tell | 16 | Hard to tell | 12 |
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!