PUBLIC OPINION IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS

2. GENERAL INFORMATION

At present there are no comprehensive and independent public opinion research projects going on in the North Caucasus republics and particularly in Chechnya. Occasional public opinion polls conducted in the area are usually ordered by various state bodies or state enterprises. In most cases, information about the results of such public opinion polls remains closed for general public. In cases when mass media can get some access to the results of those public opinion polls, this information is provided only in a highly fragmented, censored and incomplete version. Public opinion research in the “area of counter-terrorist operation” as North Caucasus is now oficially referred to, is getting increasingly problematic for independent sociologists and journalists. They are often harassed and detained by the representatives of the local law enforcement agencies; their materials are often confiscated and they are deported.

North Caucasus is at present a tight Caucasian knot consisting of various ethnic and confessional groups with different and often conflicting interests. As a result of Chechen war and long-lasting economic crisis in the area, social tension in the region is extremely high. Different perception of the ongoing events periodically causes deep contradictions within the local societies, which can potentially lead to emergence of new conflict zones in the Southern Russia. Public opinion research involving not only experts, but also public organizations and state structures is therefore getting increasingly important in the area. Present situation in the North Caucasus is marked by increasing social tension, ongoing conflict in Chechnya and in the whole region, large-scale human rights violations by the military and law enforcement agencies and strict censorship of mass media.

Using its own wide network of correspondents in the North Caucasus republics, Caucasus Times has a unique opportunity to hold high-quality public opinion research in the whole North Caucasus area. Geographical location of the Caucasus Times headquarters outside Russia makes it possible to avoid interference from the Russian authorities while processing research data and publishing the results of the public opinion polls.

It should also be emphasized that Caucasus Times has already an established and well-known in the area brand of an agency regularly conducting public opinion polls in the North Caucasus region.

3. PROJECT GOALS

Primary goal of this project is further promotion of civil society and democratization of Russia by informing Russian state officials and Russian public about the public opinion in the North Caucasus republics and by increasing their general awareness about the processes in this region.

Another project goal is promotion of the independent public opinion research in the region. It should be especially noted that implementation of the previous Caucasus Times project supported by NED was very successful for Caucasus Times in meeting all above-mentioned goals.