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 |