MOSCOW, November 27, 2007 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information concerning how Russians estimate the role that our country plays in the world politics.

Russians are getting increasingly convinced that our country is playing a more and more significant and serious role in the world politics. 80% of respondents adhere to this opinion now, (this includes 36% who completely agree with this assumption and 44% who would rather agree with it), 10% of respondents have a different point of view. In March this year 77% agreed with this opinion, whereas 16% did not.

The majority of respondents from all groups allocated according to age, level of income, type of settlement and the attitude towards the president of the country speak of the fact that Russia's influence in the world is being strengthened. The younger the respondents are and the higher their level of income is, the more optimists are there among them. It is interesting to note that if among the respondents aged 45 years and more, 78% identify an increase of significance in the role that Russia is playing in the world, among the youth of 18-24 years of age this share reaches 86%.

Among respondents with the level of income of up to 1500 rubles per family member per month, 63% assume the existence of some positive shifts in significance, 16% mention negative ones. Cf.:, respondents whose incomes exceed 5000 rubles per person  per month reply in the proportion 88:7 to this question.

The bigger the type of settlement where respondents live, the more significant they assume Russia's role in the world to be. 76-77% of respondents in villages and small cities identify strengthening of Russia's world influence, in cities of average size 81% do, in cities with the population over a million people and the capitals this share reaches 88%.

Among the respondents approving of V. Putin's political activity as President of the country, consider, 85% of respondents believe that Russia recently started to play an important role in the world politics, (versus 7% who disagree with this assumption). Among respondents who do not approve of his work (and those constitute 10% from all respondents) supporters of the assumption about strengthening the role of the country prevail as well, though with smaller a majority (62% versus 27%).

The initiative all-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM on October 20-21, 2007. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.