BESLAN TRAGEDY: PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES
From the authors: The fact that for almost half (45%) of the residents of Nazran the third most serious problem was thought to be relations with North Ossetia regarding the Prigorodny district attests to the fact that the problem of the Ossetian- Ingush conflict of 1992 still remains unresolved.
Note: This survey was conducted within the framework of a 12- month study project called "Public Opinion in the North Caucasus", which is being carried out in all the North-Caucasian republics with the financial support of the American foundation NED. The distribution of replies to the questions of the survey is given in percentages. Statistical error in surveys of this kind is within the range of 7 %. Two versions of a reply were allowed for some of the questions. Participants in the survey were mainly representatives of the intelligentsia, students, employees, workers and pensioners - members of the different ethnic groups that constitute the population of Ingushetia (Ingushes, Chechens, Russians, Cossacks).
Survey in Chechnya: 68% took part in the elections, but 40% do not know whether they will contribute to the stabilization of the situation in the republic
Results of a survey of residents of Chechnya conducted by the "Caucasus Times" agency.
(Caucasus Times) – From December 1-7, 2005 the Caucasus Times conducted a survey among the residents of the Chechen capital Grozny and the Chechen town of Shali concerning their attitude to the recent parliamentary elections in Chechnya and the possible consequences. A total of 200 people were asked for their opinions.
It is noteworthy that an overwhelming majority of those who took part in the survey (76%) are inclined to consider that the recent elections were either wholly or partially free: a completely affirmative answer to the question “Do you consider that the recent parliamentary elections in Chechnya were free?” was given by 57% of those canvassed, while 19% gave a partly affirmative answer. Only 3% of respondents consider that the elections were not free, and 4% that they were probably not free. 17% found difficulty in giving an answer to this question.
In response to the question “Did you take part in the parliamentary elections?”, 68% gave a positive reply, 27% a negative one, and 5%, mainly women, had difficulty in answering. The last figure may testify both to the unwillingness of respondents to give a clear answer to the question and to possible organizational and technical problems in the course of voting – perhaps mainly connected with the filling out of the ballot paper by a third party with or without a given voter’s consent.
A significant variety of opinions was revealed in the answers to the question “Will the recent elections contribute to the stabilization of the situation in Chechnya?”. The greatest number of respondents (40%) found it difficult to answer this question, which suggests that the residents of the republic have a very poor idea of the purpose, functions and powers of the newly elected parliament. At the same time, a significant number of those canvassed (37%) demonstrated a cautiously positive reaction with regard to the elections. 16% of this category of respondents are disposed to be more optimistic, answering "yes" to the above question, while 21% preferred to answer "probably". 16% of respondents replied “no” to the question, and 7% "probably not". Thus, positive and cautiously positive expectations concerning the recent elections (37%) noticeably predominate over negative and cautiously negative expectations (23%).
