(1.513 persons interviewed, margin of error does not exceed 0.03)
1. Was the devaluation of January, 2nd unexpected for you?
Variant of answer |
% |
It was completely unexpected |
55.2 |
I did not rule out that it might happen |
30.9 |
I was sure that it would happen |
12.5 |
NA |
1.4 |
2. What do you think of the authorities’ statement made the day before, that there would be no devaluation?
Variant of answer |
% |
The authorities deceived people not saying anything about the impending devaluation |
64.2 |
The authorities did not have to say anything about the devaluation so that the ruble downfall did not become worse |
34.0 |
NA |
1.8 |
3. Has the devaluation of the Belarusian ruble affected your financial position?
Variant of answer |
% |
It has affected it considerably |
45.5 |
It has affected it to a little degree |
35.4 |
It has not affected it |
13.8 |
DA/NA |
5.3 |
4. Is in your opinion one more sharp devaluation of the Belarusian ruble possible before the end of 2009?
Variant of answer |
% |
Yes |
55.5 |
No |
25.3 |
DA/NA |
19.2 |
5. Has your trust in the authorities changed after the devaluation of January, 2nd?
Variant of answer |
% |
I have begun to trust the authorities more |
1.8 |
My trust has not changed |
53.6 |
I have begun to trust the authorities less |
42.4 |
NA |
2.2 |
6. To what extent are you satisfied with the present-day conditions of life in Belarus?
Variant of answer |
% |
I am completely satisfied |
4.0 |
I am more likely satisfied than not |
31.1 |
I am more likely unsatisfied |
43.6 |
I am completely unsatisfied |
16.9 |
DA/NA |
4.4 |
7. Who, in your opinion, is responsible for the worsening of the economic situation in the country in the first place? (more than one answer is possible)
Variant of answer |
% |
The government |
49.7 |
The president |
49.6 |
The West |
33.0 |
Local authorities |
21.7 |
Heads of state enterprises, collective farms |
12.5 |
Russia |
12.3 |
Business owners |
9.4 |
Mafia |
7.8 |
Mass media (newspapers, radio, television) |
1.5 |
Other |
2.3 |
DA |
7.5 |
8. The authorities have announced forthcoming liberalization of the economy. What do you think it is connected with?
Variant of answer |
% |
With the world financial and economic crisis |
42.6 |
With the pressure of the West on the Belarusian leadership |
28.6 |
It is a natural development stage of the Belarusian economy |
11.3 |
DA/NA |
17.5 |
9. If you believe that the economic crisis has begun in Belarus, then what opinion concerning it, do you agree with?
Variant of answer |
% |
Serious shocks are expecting our country’s economy |
51.7 |
It is a temporary phenomenon which does not affect the fundamentals of our economy and the situation is going to stabilize soon |
26.2 |
I have not heard anything about the crisis |
0.7 |
DA/NA |
21.4 |
10. If you believe that the economic crisis has begun in Belarus, then to what extent can it be considered the consequence of the country’s leadership economic policy of the last years?
Variant of answer |
% |
Virtually in full measure |
17.5 |
To a considerable extent |
34.6 |
To a slight extent |
16.5 |
It is impossible to say that it is the reason for the economic crisis |
9.4 |
DA/NA |
22.0 |
11. If one speaks about you and members of your family living together with you, do you expect wage payment delays in the near future?
Variant of answer |
% |
It is already taking place |
23.0 |
It may happen within the next few weeks |
11.9 |
If nothing changes it may happen within the next few months |
20.6 |
I think, it is not going to happen in the near future |
27.0 |
There are no employed in my family |
13.4 |
DA/NA |
4.1 |
12. If one speaks about you and members of your family living together with you, do you expect in the near future discharge from the enterprise (the organization) where you (members of your family) work?
Variant of answer |
% |
It is already taking place |
9.9 |
It may happen within the next few weeks |
9.6 |
If nothing changes it may happen within the next few months |
22.9 |
I think, it is not going to happen in the near future |
37.6 |
There are no employed in my family |
14.2 |
DA/NA |
5.8 |
13. If one speaks about you and members of your family living together with you, do you expect in the near future reduction of earnings?
Variant of answer |
% |
It is already taking place |
38.6 |
It may happen within the next few weeks |
10.2 |
If nothing changes it may happen within the next few months |
17.2 |
I think, it is not going to happen in the near future |
15.3 |
There are no employed in my family |
14.3 |
DA/NA |
4.4 |
14. Are fundamental changes possible in home and foreign policy of Belarus within the next five years, in your opinion?
Variant of answer |
% |
Quite possible |
39.9 |
Unlikely |
37.9 |
Impossible |
12.9 |
DA/NA |
9.3 |
15. If you think that such changes are possible, who in your opinion is going to trigger them? (more than one answer is possible)
Variant of answer |
% |
Belarusian authorities |
32.1 |
The West |
22.1 |
The Belarusian people |
20.3 |
The Belarusian opposition |
10.5 |
Russia |
9.8 |
DA/NA |
14.7 |
16. Would you like such changes to happen?
Variant of answer |
% |
Yes |
46.6 |
No |
19.4 |
It makes no difference to me |
18.5 |
DA/NA |
15.5 |
17. A Public advisory council attached to the presidential Administration has been established, and some representatives of the opposition are included in it. Have you heard about it?
Variant of answer |
% |
Yes |
25.8 |
No |
73.4 |
NA |
0.8 |
18. What are the reasons for establishing the Public advisory council, in your opinion? (more than one answer is possible)
Variant of answer |
% |
In order to receive another credit from the International Monetary Fund |
28.7 |
Under the conditions of the crisis a public dialogue to elaborate effective anti-crisis decisions is necessary |
27.0 |
In order to reduce social tension in the country |
21.9 |
Other |
1.0 |
DA |
29.9 |
19. What is more important: improvement of Belarus economic position or independence of the country?
Variant of answer |
% |
Improvement of Belarus economic position |
69.4 |
Independence of the country |
21.6 |
DA/NA |
9.0 |
20. What, in your opinion, can quite high support of A. Lukashenko in the Belarusian society be accounted by? (more than one answer is possible)
Variant of answer |
% |
There is simply no one else who would be better |
44.2 |
By the hope that he will manage to make the life better in future |
31.9 |
By his personal and professional qualities |
15.1 |
By his real progress and achievements |
13.1 |
DA |
11.4 |
21. How do you assess the political climate in Belarus as a whole?
Variant of answer |
% |
Safe |
7.2 |
Quiet |
43.8 |
Tense |
37.6 |
Critical, volatile |
5.4 |
DA/NA |
6.0 |
22. Which opinion do you agree with?
Variant of answer |
% |
Belarus needs stability |
46.3 |
Belarus needs changes |
46.2 |
DA/NA |
7.5 |
23. Does the circle of president A. Lukashenko consist now of able and enterprising specialists or of “dull”, passive and insufficiently qualified ones?
Variant of answer |
% |
Of “dull”, passive and insufficiently qualified ones |
37.5 |
Of able and enterprising ones |
32.7 |
DA/NA |
29.8 |
24. Is the activity of the “Top-down command structure” created by president A. Lukashenko more useful or more harmful for the country, in your opinion?
Variant of answer |
% |
More useful |
36.3 |
More harmful |
32.1 |
DA/NA |
31.6 |
25. What direction is Belarus political life developing in now?
Variant of answer |
% |
Formation of authoritarianism and dictatorship |
29.4 |
Developing of democracy |
24.7 |
Restoration of the former Soviet order |
19.9 |
Chaos increasing, anarchy and threat of the coup d’etat |
7.3 |
DA/NA |
18.7 |
26. How would you assess the people who are in power now?
Variant of answer |
% |
These are the people who are preoccupied only with their material well-being and career |
43.5 |
These are honest, but weak people who are not able to handle the power and secure the order and consistent political line |
12.7 |
These are honest, but inconversant people who do not know how to help the country out of the economic crisis |
11.9 |
It is a good team of politicians leading the country in the right direction |
17.3 |
DA/NA |
14.6 |
27. Do you feel protected from the possible arbitrariness on the part of the authorities, militia, the State Motor Vehicle Inspectorate, the tax inspectorate, courts and other state bodies?
Variant of answer |
% |
Definitely, yes |
11.3 |
More likely, yes |
26.2 |
More likely, no |
37.9 |
Definitely, no |
19.0 |
DA/NA |
5.6 |
28. Some people consider themselves supporters of the present authorities, others–their opponents. Which group would you attribute yourself to?
Variant of answer |
% |
I consider myself a supporter of the present authorities |
32.8 |
I consider myself an opponent of the present authorities |
21.6 |
I did not think about it and it makes no difference to me |
38.7 |
DA/NA |
6.9 |
29. In your opinion, the president and the government now have to…
Variant of answer |
% |
Give people freedom and only watch that they do not break laws |
55.0 |
Strictly control political and economic life in the country |
34.3 |
DA/NA |
10.7 |
30. Do you perceive yourself as a European, do you feel your belonging to the culture and history of the European society?
Variant of answer |
% |
Yes |
37.1 |
No |
52.8 |
DA/NA |
10.1 |
31. Since autumn of 2008 a certain improvement of relations between the Belarusian authorities and the European Union has been observed: high-level meetings have become more frequent, visa sanctions of the EU against the top officials have been suspended, Belarus was offered to join the collaboration program with the EU–Eastern partnership. Different opinions are being expressed concerning the change. Which of them do you agree with to the greatest extent? (more than one answer is possible)
Variant of answer |
% |
The European Union has acted rightly, it should respect the choice of the Belarusian people and collaborate with the authorities which enjoy people’s support |
37.9 |
The European Union has acted rightly, because whatever the authorities of Belarus are–the most important thing is to diminish dependence of Belarus on Russia |
17.6 |
The European Union has betrayed its principles meeting the Belarusian authorities halfway |
11.8 |
The European Union has acted wrongly, as it is trying to tear Belarus away from Russia |
10.9 |
DA |
24.6 |
32. Should Belarus, following Russia, recognize independence of Abkhazia and South Osetia, in your opinion?
Variant of answer |
% |
Yes, their independence should be recognized |
44.6 |
No, their independence should not be recognized |
7.7 |
It makes no difference to me |
37.1 |
DA/NA |
10.6 |
33. Recently Russia and Belarus have concluded an agreement on creating a common system of anti-aircraft defense of the Union state of Russia and Belarus. Some people approve of this agreement thinking that it will strengthen the defense capacity of Belarus and will help to get credits from Russia, others oppose it, considering it to be “trade of Belarus independence”. And what is your opinion?
Variant of answer |
% |
I support this agreement |
48.6 |
I do not support this agreement |
20.5 |
It makes no difference to me |
30.2 |
NA |
0.7 |
34. Not long ago negotiations between A. Lukashenko and former NATO Secretary General, present EU High Representative Javier Solana took place in Minsk for the first time. Some people support these negotiations believing that they develop collaboration of Belarus with the European Union, others oppose them thinking that they worsen our relations with Russia. And what is your opinion?
Variant of answer |
% |
I support these negotiations |
47.4 |
I do not support these negotiations |
12.4 |
It makes no difference to me |
39.2 |
NA |
1.0 |