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RESULTS OF THE NATION OPINION POLL MARCH 2015

RESULTS OF THE NATION OPINION POLL conducted on March 2-12, 2015
(1.515 persons interviewed, margin of error does not exceed 0.03)

1. If you think that Belarusian economy is in crisis, then how do you assess government’s actions for overcoming it?

Variant of answer

%

Government acts efficiently, but it is unable to resist external reasons of crisis (war in Ukraine, drop in oil prices and so on)

23.7

Government acts inefficiently, and the references to external reasons is just an attempt to decline responsibility for the crisis

39.6

DA/NA

36.7

2. Do you check how your incomes expressed in dollars change?

Variant of answer

%

Yes, constantly

34.1

Sometimes

43.5

Never

17.6

DA/NA

4.8

3. Do you fear another devaluation of Belarusian ruble in the next few months?

Variant of answer

%

This is a real threat

32.8

This is possible, but unlikely

48.4

This won’t happen

12.9

DA/NA

5.9

4. According to you, how will your incomes change in comparison with prices in the near future?

Variant of answer

%

Incomes will surpass prices

4.5

Incomes will keep up with prices

31.9

Incomes will lag behind prices

60.8

DA/NA

2.8

5. There are different opinions concerning the progress of Belarusian economy model. Which one do you agree with?

Variant of answer

%

The progress of the Belarusian economy is explained by internal reasons; Russian aid is an important but not decisive factor

32.4

Without the help of Russia there would be no progress in the Belarusian economy

35.4

There is no progress in the Belarusian economy

27.0

DA/NA

5.2

6. During a press-conference in January 2015 President A. Lukashenko had stated that Belarus was not ready for a drastic change of economy development model: “I’m ready to surprise you with any model. But are you ready to digest this model?” What is your answer to this question?

Variant of answer

%

Yes, I’m ready for a change of economy development model of Belarus

51.5

No, I’m not ready for a change of economy development model of Belarus

33.0

DA/NA

15.5

7. Which of the following statements corresponds to your opinion most?

Variant of answer

%

Our society needs serious reforms (structural and system changes)

39.9

Our society needs gradual reforms which would preserve current system

42.2

Our society needs protection against forces which try to change current order

14.4

DA/NA

3.5

8. President A. Lukashenko has recently stated: “We have everything. Belarusians never lived as well as they do now. If people want to live normally and feed their children, their family – they have everything for it; they just need to get going”. Do you agree with this statement?

Variant of answer

%

Yes

36.4

No

53.1

DA/NA

10.5

9. What’s more important: improvement of financial position of Belarus or independence of the country?

Variant of answer

%

Improvement of financial position of Belarus

58.8

Independence of the country

33.9

DA/NA

7.3

10. If there was a referendum on which language should be official in Belarus, which variant would you choose?

Variant of answer

%

Belarusian should be the official language

14.5

Russian should be the official language

13.1

Both Belarusian and Russian should be official languages

48.3

I don’t care

20.9

DA/NA

3.2

11. According to you, is a significant improvement of Belarusian people’s lives possible under the current rule and its policy?

Variant of answer

%

Possible

49.1

Impossible

38.1

DA/NA

12.8

12. Are you going to vote in presidential elections in November 2015?

Variant of answer

%

Yes, of course

35.8

Rather yes

37.6

Rather, no

16.3

Of course, no

6.0

DA/NA

4.3

13. If A. Lukashenko runs as a candidate on presidential elections for the fifth time, and he has an adversary from democratic opposition, who will you vote for?

Variant of answer

%

For A. Lukashenko

37.0

For the candidate from democratic opposition

23.2

For neither of them

21.0

DA/NA

18.8

14. Some people consider themselves as supporters of the current power, others – as opponents. Which group would you ascribe yourself to?

Variant of answer

%

I am a supporter of the current power

37.3

I am an opponent of the current power

25.4

I’ve never thought about it and I’m indifferent

36.7

DA/NA

0.6

15. In the end of the past year Russia introduced a ban on importing foods from the EU countries, which earlier introduced sanctions against Russia as an answer to its policy in Ukraine. According to you, how should Belarus act in this conflict?

Variant of answer

%

We should also introduce a ban, because Russia is our ally and Belarus should support it

17.0

Belarus should not associate itself with the ban; this is a conflict between the EU and Russia, it doesn’t concern Belarus

64.8

Belarus should join the EU sanctions against Russia

5.8

DA/NA

12.4

16. In the end of the past year Russia introduced a ban on importing foods from Belarus and accused Belarus of low quality of products and re-export of foods from the EU countries. How do you evaluate positions of the sides in this conflict?

Variant of answer

%

Russian side is to blame in this conflict

35.1

Belarusian side is to blame in this conflict

10.2

Both sides are to blame equally

42.9

DA/NA

11.8

17. How do you evaluate the annexation of Crimea by Russia?

Variant of answer

%

It’s an imperialistic usurpation and occupation

22.0

It’s a restitution of Russian lands and reestablishment of historical justice

58.5

DA/NA

19.5

18. Do you support independence of Novorossiya?

Variant of answer

%

Yes, people of Novorossiya have a right for self-determination

42.0

No, I support territorial integrity of Ukraine

25.5

There is no Novorossiya, there is only Russian aggression against Ukraine

15.9

DA/NA

16.6

19. Did your attitude to Russia change after this year’s events in Ukraine?

Variant of answer

%

Yes, it became worse

21.5

Yes, it became better

22.0

No, it didn’t change

52.2

DA/NA

4.3

20. Did your attitude to the EU change after this year’s events in Ukraine?

Variant of answer

%

Yes, it became worse

35.6

Yes, it became better

7.9

No, it didn’t change

49.7

DA/NA

6.8

21. Which attitude to Ukrainians prevails in Belarus?

Variant of answer

%

Positive

33.5

Neutral

51.1

Negative

10.8

DA/NA

4.6

22. If Russia tried to annex Belarus or its part with the help of armed forces, what would you do?

Variant of answer

%

I’d resist up in arms

18.7

I’d try to adapt to a new situation

47.1

I’d greet these changes

15.0

DA/NA

19.2

23. How do you evaluate President A. Lukashenko’s role in the negotiations between the leaders of Germany, Russia, Ukraine and France, which were held on February 11-12 in Minsk and lead to signing of a treaty on settlement of the conflict in Ukraine?

Variant of answer

%

A. Lukashenko had no role at all, Belarus simply provided place for the negotiations

28.0

A. Lukashenko’s role was small, but useful for achieving peace

47.7

A. Lukashenko played an important role as a peacemaker

20.4

DA/NA

3.9

24. How do you evaluate the possibility of bringing Belarusian peacekeeping forces under the flag of the UN in order to observe the truce in Donbass?

Variant of answer

%

Positively

18.2

Indifferently

26.7

Negatively

44.8

DA/NA

10.3

25. 12 employees of a French satirical journal “Charlie Hebdo” were killed in January in Paris. This was a revenge for publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed. What do you think about this?

Variant of answer

%

It is an attempt upon the freedom of speech

38.8

I pity the killed ones, but it was their fault, they shouldn’t have insulted religious feelings

38.2

It was a fair punishment for insulting religious feelings

7.9

DA/NA

15.1

26. Are Belarusians, Russians and Ukrainians three different nations or three branches of the same nation?

Variant of answer

%

Three branches of the same nation

66.6

Three different nations

27.1

DA/NA

6.3

27. Several years ago the EU and the USA have introduced sanctions against the leadership of Belarus. They have forbidden their countries to 250 of Belarusian officials, judges and journalists headed by A. Lukashenko, because they are considered to be guilty of falsification of results of presidential elections and repressions against participants of peaceful protests. Later they have introduced economic sanctions against several Belarusian enterprises, because their incomes are considered to strengthen political regime which suppresses democracy and human rights. How do you evaluate introduction of these sanctions?

Variant of answer

%

Positive

16.9

Negative

36.8

Indifferent

37.8

DA/NA

8.5