Most Russians are following the events in Ukraine, and nearly half of them are sure that the recent protests in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities have been influenced by the West, as is seen from a public opinion poll of 1,603 people the Levada Center sociological service conducted in 130 populated areas of 45 regions of Russia on Feb. 21-25.
The poll showed that 57 percent of Russians are closely following the
ongoing events in Ukraine, 31 percent know about these events but are not
following them very closely, 9 percent do not care about the protests, and 4 percent
have not heard anything about them.
As many as 43 percent of Russians aware of the latest events in Ukraine are
sure that they essentially constitute a violent coup attempt, 23 percent call
the events a civil war, 16 percent a people’s uprising, and 11% a protest
against President Viktor Yanukovych’s corrupt regime.
In the view of 45 percent of those polled, the Ukrainians are protesting
under the influence of the West seeking to draw Ukraine into the orbit
of its political interests, 32 percent explain the riots by nationalistic
sentiments in society, and 17 percent are sure that the protests were fueled
chiefly by hatred toward Yanukovych’s corrupt regime.
As many as 12 percent of those polled believe the Ukrainians are being
driven by civil dignity and the refusal to accept arbitrary rule,
another 12 percent see the protesters’ actions as the desire to make Ukraine a
civilized country similar to other European countries or free it from
economic and political dependence on Russia, and 4 percent believe the standoff
in Kyiv was sparked as a protest against the Berkut riot police force’s
actions.
Nearly half of those polled – 45 percent – put the blame for the political
crisis in Ukraine on Yanukovych and his entourage, 38 percent see the leaders
of Western countries as responsible for the riots in Ukraine, 35 percent blame
the Ukrainian opposition for escalating the conflict, and 4 percent are sure
that the Russian leadership played the key role in the Ukrainian events
(the respondents were able to choose several options when asked about
those responsible for the conflict).
Over one third of the respondents – 36 percent – are outraged by the
conflict between the authorities and the opposition in Ukraine, 16 percent feel
sympathy with the protesters, 15 percent are afraid, 12 percent irritated, 1 percent approve
of the riots, and 3 percent are thrilled by the protesters, while 14 percent of
Russians are indifferent.
A new wave of protests and clashes between protesters and police in
Kyiv started after the Verkhovna Rada failed to register a resolution on
reinstating the 2004 version of the Ukrainian constitution on Feb.
18, upon which the opposition had insisted. Over 80 people died in the
clashes. This ultimately led to the change of government in the country:
President Viktor Yanukovych has gone into hiding, and the Ukrainian
parliament elected Oleksandr Turchynov as the new speaker and interim
president on Feb. 22. The Verkhovna Rada also reinstated the 2004
constitution and scheduled early presidential elections for May 25.
Yanukovych was declared internationally wanted on Feb. 24 on
suspicion of responsibility for mass killings of peaceful protesters.
