Survey in Kabardino-Balkaria: 58% of balkarians are ready to participate in protest actions

Although 70% use television as their major source of news and information, only 60% of respondents said they trust television. 10% said they trust international TV as a source of information. Although 28% reported newspapers as their main information source, only 6% said they trust print media. It should be noted that Internet enjoyed quite high level of trust among those polled (46%).

Opinion poll in Grozny: 39% believe new war in Chechnya is possible; 32% prefer Zubkov and only 11% Putin as Russia’s next president

PRAGUE, 4 December - On 5-11 November 2007 information agency “Caucasus Times” conducted regular opinion poll among the residents of Chechen capital Grozny. Major goal of this research was to explore the attitudes of the population of Grozny towards the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections in Russia. Separate questions were asked about people’s attitudes towards changes in social, economic and security situation in Chechnya during R. Kadyrov’s presidency. In addition, media preferences of the people in Grozny were also explored. In total, 200 residents of Chechen capital of different ages, sex and professions have been polled.

Responding to a question on “are, in your opinion, the upcoming in December 2007 State Duma elections going to have any impact on situation in Chechnya and if so, what impact?”, 44% of respondents stated that Duma elections are not going to have any impact on their republic. Significantly less number of respondents believe that parliamentary elections will result in any impact. Thus, 17% expected that elections would have “positive impact”, 14% - “rather positive impact”, 6% - “rather negative impact” and 8% - “negative impact”. 11% reported difficulties in answering this question. It should be noticed that widespread sceptical approach towards Duma elections influenced respondents’ behavior during the interviews. Many of those polled were rather critical about the ongoing in Chechnya advertising campaign of various political parties. In view of those respondents, financial resources which are being spent for this advertising campaign could have been used for other, more practical needs.

Respondents’ reaction to a question on “which party would you like to vote for during Duma elections?” revealed electoral leadership of pro-Kremlin “Unified Russia”, which proved to be much more popular tnan any other political party in Russia. 26% of those polled expressed their readiness to vote for “Unified Russia” while 16% are going to vote for KPRF, which turned out to be the second most popular party in Chechen capital. Among other recognizable and popular parties in Grozny were “Yabloko” (14%); “Just Russia” (11%) and Zhirinovsky’s LDPR (8%). 1% of respondents supported “Another Russia”. At the same time, popularity of “Unified Russia” turned out to be considerably lower than in the capitals of some other North Caucasus republics. Thus, during opinion poll in the capital of neighboring Ingushetia Nazran in October 2007, 30% supported “Unified Russia” while during the opinion poll in Kabardino-Balkarian capital of Nalchik in August 2007 43% of respondents said they were going to vote for “Unified Russia”.

Attitudes of the residents of Grozny towards presidential elections in Russia and their ability to influence situation in Chechnya proved to be rather sceptical. 44% of respondents were certain that presidential elections are not going to have any impact on situation in their republic. In the meantime, 20% felt that elections would have positive influence and 8% - “rather positive influence”. Only 2% noted that presidential elections would have negative consequences and 12% - “rather negative” consequences.

Poll results indicate that presidential preferences of the residents of Grozny and residents of the capitals of other neighboring North Caucasus republics are quite different. Thus, opinion polls in Nazran (Ingushetia) and in Nalchik