PUBLIC OPINION IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS

4. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

1. As previously, in the framework of this project Caucasus Times is going to conduct 12 public opinion polls in eight North Caucasus republics during one year. Opinion polls will be conducted on a monthly basis. Selection of a republic where opinion poll is to be held is dependent on the nature of events going on in the region. Main focus of public opinion polls in 2007-2008 will be made on the attitudes of the population towards the upcoming State Duma and presidential elections in Russia. Questionnaires for all republics will be significantly increased and will include a special section of questions exploring the attitudes of the population towards the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections in Russia and their results. Polls will be conducted in Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachaevo-Cherkessia, Adygea, North Ossetia as well as in Krasnodar and Stavropol regions. “Face to face” methodology will be applied with standard questionnaires including 6-7 blocks of questions depending on the nature of research. Sample size is 400 persons (200 men and 200 women; age 16+). In the course of the public opinion research Caucasus Times is going to focus not only on election issues, but also on specific problems for each republic and on more general issues of regional importance. In particular, this includes attitudes of the population towards the actions of the law enforcement agencies, their attitudes towards the innovations of the federal center and local authorities, attitudes of the local population towards the processes going on in Chechnya and in the neighboring regions. Also, such issues as influence of social and economic situation on behavioral stereotypes of the population, expections of the local population as far as future of the region is concerned, readiness of the population to defend their interests by participation in the protest actions will also be investigated during the polls. In addition, media behavior of the population and the level of their trust to various media (TV, radio, newspapers, Internet) will also be analyzed. Combination of various topics in the framework of one research project is omnibus-type research.

2. Results of the public opinin polls will regularly be published on www.caucasustimes.com in a special rubric OPINION POLLS, which already contains the results of the polls held in 2005-2006.

3. Based on positive experience of publishing a special brochure on public opinion in the North Caucasus in 2005-2006, Caucasus Times is going to summarize the research results for 2007, to make comparative analysis with the results of the previous project, to add analysis made by the experts and to publish those results as a separate booklet under the title “PUBLIC OPINION IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS 2007-2008” with approximate circulation of 999 copies. These booklets will be published in Prague. Each booklet will consist of approximately 100 pages of F-4 format, font 12 (50 pages in Russian and 50 in English). Network of Caucasus Times correspondents will be used for distributing those booklets in Moscow and in North Caucasus republics among diplomatic missions, Russian state bodies, international and Russian human rights and humanitarian organizations and NGOs. We also are planning to gradually arrange subscription for our booklets in both hard copies and electronic form.

4. In addition, we are also going to make public presentation of our opinion polls in both Prague and in the North Caucasus two times during this year.

5. EVALUATION PLAN

Main criterion evaluating the implementation of the Caucasus Times project is the level of demand and interest in its materials from the audience. This can be evaluated by the references to the results of the opinion polls held by CaucasusTimes in various mass media as well as by new initiatives in the field of opinion research in the North Caucasus taken by Russian and foreign NGOs. Another criterion is a number of subscribers for the CaucasusTimes booklets.