You're reading: Russians are less concerned about Western sanctions

The level of Russians' concern about the political and economic sanctions imposed by the Western countries has decreased: 41 percent of the respondents are alarmed about that now (against 51 percent in December 2014), the Levada Center told Interfax.

The poll, which surveyed 1,600 people living in 134 populated areas of 46 regions of Russia, was conducted on July 17-20.

The poll showed that 56 percent of the respondents (against 46 percent in December) are not alarmed about the sanctions.

Thirty-eight percent of the respondents are concerned about the international isolation of Russia over its position on Ukraine, while 58 percent said they are not concerned about it (against 46 percent and 51 percent, respectively, in December).

As regards to the influence of the Western sanctions on the Russian economy, 48 percent (against 46 percent in February) said they believe the sanctions have somewhat worsened the economic situation in Russia.

Twenty-nine percent of the respondents (against 36 percent in February) have noticed a considerable deterioration of the economic situation in Russia due to the sanctions. Eighteen percent (against 12 percent in February) said the restrictions imposed by the Western countries have had no influence on the Russian economy.

Thirty-nine percent of the respondents (against 43 percent in February) believe the counter-sanctions imposed by Russia are hurting both parties equally. Thirty-five percent of the respondents (against 32 percent in February) believe the counter-sanctions are hurting the West more and 15 percent (against 13 percent in February) believe the counter-sanctions are hurting Russia first.