An overwhelming majority of Russians (84 percent) see opposition protests in Kyiv as a coup attempt and a third express their indignation at the opposition's actions, Levada Center said, referring to a poll of 1,603 people in 130 populated localities in 45 regions on Jan. 24-27.
Almost a quarter of Russians (24 percent) side with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in this conflict, and 9 percent support the opposition. Over a half of the respondents (58 percent) denied supporting either side.
Most respondents said they were following the Ukrainian events in one
way or another: 9 percent were watching them very closely, 35 percent rather
attentively and 40 percent gave a cursory glance. Ten percent said they were
not following the protests in Ukraine at all, and 6 percent never heard about
that.
In the opinion of respondents aware of the Kyiv protests, the
demonstrations resulted from the Western wish to bring Ukraine into the
orbit of its political interests, nationalist sentiments, “indignation
at the corrupt regime of Yanukovych” and the wish to free Ukraine from
Russia’s influence. Some suggested that the demonstrators wanted to make
Ukraine a civilized country, displayed civil dignity, rejected an
outrage of the authorities and protested against the harsh conduct of
the Berkut police force.
As to how the respondents felt about the protests, 33 percent said they were
indignant, 22 percent expressed surprise, 12 percent irritation, 3 percent approval and 1 percent
admiration. Twenty-six percent said they had no sentiments about the
protests at all.
In the opinion of Russians following the Ukrainian events, Yanukovych
and his government, the opposition and the authorities in Western
countries were responsible for the escalation of the conflict. A
minority blamed the Russian administration for the escalation of the
conflict.
Nearly a quarter of Russians (23 percent) said the crisis would end with the
resumption of Ukraine-EU Euro-integration negotiations, 19 percent said the
protesters would be dispersed, 17 percent said the confrontation would spread
outside of downtown Kyiv and eventually develop into a civil war, and
16 percent said the Ukrainian president would step down and the country will
hold an early election.
Most Russians (59 percent) believe that Russia and Ukraine should be
independent but friendly countries, with open borders; 16 percent stand for
their unification into a single state, and 19 percent presume that Russia and
Ukraine should have a closed border regime with visas and customs.
Mass disturbances in Ukraine started after the government and the
president had refused to sign an association agreement with the European
Union at the Vilnius summit on Nov. 28-29, 2013. The Ukrainian
administration said the agreement had to be revised and simultaneously
resumed negotiations on boosting relations with Russia.
A new outbreak of protests and clashes between demonstrators and the
police started in Kyiv after the Verkhovna Rada passed on Jan. 16,
2014, a package of laws regulating the registration and operation of
non-governmental organizations “foreign agents”, introduced criminal
liability for interference in the operation of governmental information
resources and tightened criminal punishment for mass disturbances,
blocking and seizure of buildings and similar actions.
Although the laws caused the negative reaction of Western politicians
and officials and international human rights organizations, Ukrainian
President Yanukovych signed the bills passed by the Verkhovna Rada into
law on Jan. 17.
Yanukovych met with opposition leaders on Jan. 25 and the sides
agreed that the protesters and the police would leave streets and
squares of the Kyiv center step by step. The president accepted the
proposal to amnesty all protesters engaged in the actions during the
political crisis. He also agreed to adjust the constitution. In
addition, Yanukovych offered Batkivschyna faction leader Arseniy
Yatseniuk to be the prime minister and UDAR leader Vitali Klitschko to
be a deputy prime minister for humanitarian affairs. Both declined the
proposition.
The Verkhovna Rada repealed the laws, which caused protests by the
opposition, and the president accepted the resignation of Prime Minister
Mykola Azarov on Jan. 28.
