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RESULTS OF THE NATION OPINION POLL CONDUCTED ON JANUARY 20-30, 2007

(1474 persons interviewed, margin of error does not exceed 0.03)

 

1. It was 15 years on December 10, 2006 from the day of Belovezhskoe Agreement. What do you think about it now? (more than one answer is possible)

Variant of answer

%

It’s just an episode showing struggle for power in country’s top echelons

38.3

It’s a tragic event that entailed disastrous repercussions for the country and the people

32.4

It’s the victory of democratic revolution that put an end to the power of Soviet Communist Party

15.5

DA/NA

15.9

2. Have you personally benefited or lost from that Belarus became an independent country?

Variant of answer

%

Benefited

38.1

Lost

29.4

DA/NA

32.5

3. Do the people like you take any influence on country’s political and economic life?

Variant of answer

%

Don’t take any influence

57.6

Take minor influence

29.1

Take significant influence

6.8

DA/NA

6.5

4. What is your attitude to the present State Symbols (State Emblem, flag and hymn) of Belarus?

Variant of answer

%

Approve

59.2

Indifferent

26.3

Don’t approve

12.1

DA/NA

2.4

5. Did you come to vote at the election into Local Councils of Deputies in January of 2007?

Variant of answer

%

Yes

61.8

No

37.7

NA

0.5

6. When did you vote?

Variant of answer

%

Ahead of term (on January 9-13)

23.4

On Sunday January 14

38.5

Didn’t come to voting

37.8

NA

0.3

7. Do you think all candidates were put in equal conditions during the election into Local Councils?

Variant of answer

%

Yes

47.1

No

26.3

DA/NA

26.6

8. Did the authorities show their support to some candidate in your constituency?

Variant of answer

%

Yes

35.1

No

23.3

DA/NA

41.6

9. Did anyone force you to vote ahead of term at this election or not?

Variant of answer

%

No

87.1

Yes

11.5

NA

1.4

10. The opposition and independent observers claim that there were many violations of the law as well as arbitrary rule of election commissions during the election into Local Councils. Do you agree with this?

Variant of answer

%

No

43.4

Yes

25.7

DA/NA

30.9

11. For what candidate did you vote?

Variant of answer

%

For a candidate supporting A. Lukashenko

37.9

For a candidate opposing A. Lukashenko

5.0

For other candidate

8.9

I didn’t come to voting

34.4

DA/NA

13.8

12. Do you know the results of the election into Local Councils?

Variant of answer

%

Yes

48.2

No

46.9

DA/NA

4.9

13. Do you think the announced results of election into Local Councils of Deputies can be trusted?

Variant of answer

%

Yes

55.3

No

25.1

DA/NA

19.6

14. The European Commission has developed a new package of proposals for Belarus and offers economic support in exchange to democratic reforming in the country. In your opinion, will these proposals facilitate the dialogue between the Belarusian authorities and the West?

Variant of answer

%

Yes

39.2

No

35.3

DA/NA

25.5

15. Will you still stand for integration of Belarus into Russia, if the consequences of risen prices for Russian gas appear hard for you personally?

Variant of answer

%

No

49.0

Yes

35.1

DA/NA

15.9

16. Has your attitude to the course conducted by Alexander Lukashenko changed after the gas and oil conflict that broke out recently between Russia and Belarus?

Variant of answer

%

Hasn’t changed: I did consider his course wrong and I still consider it wrong

28.0

Has changed: I considered his course right and now I consider it wrong

7.8

Has changed: I considered his course wrong and now I consider it right

6.2

Hasn’t changed: I did consider his course right and I still consider it right

42.4

DA/NA

15.6

17. How do you assess A. Lukashenko’s activity during Russia-Belarus oil and gas conflict?

Variant of answer

%

He showed himself a strong politician able to achieve his goals

52.6

He showed himself a weak politician and he yielded too much

25.7

DA/NA

21.7

18. What is your attitude to the decision of Belarusian authorities to sell 50% of Beltransgaz shares to the Russian gas monopoly Gazprom?

Variant of answer

%

I don’t approve this decision

36.9

I approve this decision

12.0

I don’t approve this decision but I do understand that the Belarusian government didn’t have choice

28.8

This doesn’t matter to me

12.8

DA/NA

9.5

19. Different people make different conclusions from Russia-Belarus oil and gas conflict. Which of them do you agree with?

Variant of answer

%

Belarus shouldn’t reciprocate the West or the East but rather be fully independent

27.5

It is better to reach consensus with Russia than reciprocate the EU

25.3

Belarus should reciprocate the European Union to protect itself from Russia’s pressure

21.9

Belarus should merge with Russia, and all of its energy problems will be solved then

14.5

DA/NA

10.8

20. If a referendum on Russia-Belarus integration is held today, how would you vote?

Variant of answer

%

Against integration

39.3

For integration

35.1

Wouldn’t come to voting

14.0

DA/NA

11.6