Survey in Kabardino-Balkaria: 58% of balkarians are ready to participate in protest actions
(Kabardino-Balkaria) showed that majority of those polled preferred Putin as Russia’s next president (39% of respondents in Nazran and 56% in Nalchik indicated that they prefer Putin as the next president of Russia). By contrast, only 11% of the respondents in Grozny said they would like to have Putin as next Russia’s president. Current Russian Prime Minister V. Zubkov with 32% proved to be the most popular presidential candidate among population of Grozny. In their oral comments, respondents stressed they particularly appreciate Zubkov for his “tough and uncompromised” stance toward ministers and other high Russian officials. S. Ivanov (14%) turned out the second most popular Russian presidential candidate in Grozny. R. Khasbulatov, former speaker of Russian Supreme Soviet (13%) was the third most popular candidate.
Current Russian president V. Putin with 11% proved to be only the fourth the most popular presidential candidate among residents of Grozny. Among other politicians that were mentioned by respondents as possible Russia’s presidents were V. Zhirinovsky (7%), G. Zyuganov (6%) and D. Medvedev (2%). It is worth noting that nobody out of those polled in Grozny mentioned current Chechen president R. Kadyrov as possible Russia’s president.
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Responding to a question about possible changes in social and economic situation in Chechnya during Kadyrov’s presidency, almost one third of respondents (30%) indicated that situation improved and 17% - “rather improved”. At the same time, 11% felt that social an economic conditions “rather deteriorated” and 13% - “deteriorated”. 18% of respondents stated that there were no changes. 11% found it hard to answer this question.
Changes that occurred in Chechnya in security sphere during Kadyrov’s rule were evaluated by the respondents much less positively. Most of those polled (39%) indicated that there were no changes in security situation. 19% pointed out that security situation improved and 9% - “rather improved”. At the same time, in view of 14% of respondents, security situation deteriorated. 7% thought that situation in security sphere “rather deteriorated. 12% reported difficulties in providing response to that question.
Respondents’ reaction to a question on whether “do they consider new war in Chechnya possible” demonstrated that pessimistic expactations concerning the future of their republic are still quite widespread among residents of Chechen capital. 39% of respondents noticed that they consider new war in Chechnya possible and 18% - “rather possible”. Only 12% are certain that the new war in Chechnya is not possible while 20% think that new war is “rather impossible”. 11% could not answer this question. Providing explanation to their pessimism concerning the possibility of a new war in Chechnya, many respondents connected that possibility with the actions and behaviour of current Chechen president, who was criticized by many repsondents for his arbitrary rule, for sacking republican officials without any explanation and for the growing cult of Kadyrov’s personality in the republic.
Respondents’ concerns connected with the possibility of a new wave of violance in Chechnya manifested in their responces to a question on “whether are you going to move to other Russia’s region or abroad for permanent residence?”. Thus, one third of those polled stated that they are going to leave Chechnya and to move to other Russian region or abroad for permanent residence. 11% noticed that they did not exclude such a possibility. Only 12% of those polled were certian about their readiness to stay in Chechnya while 35% noticed they tended to stay in their republic. 9% of respondents found it hard to answer that question. It should be mentioned that young people who want to get education outside Chechnya and those who did not receive financial compensation for war damages from federal authorities dominated among those respondents who were going to leave Chechnya.
Separate question was asked about situation with killings and kidnappings in Chechnya during Kadyrov’s presidency. Almost half of the respondents (48%) remarked that situation in this sphere did not change. In view of 16% of respondents, situation in this sphere became even worse. 14% thought that situation “rather deteriorated”. At the same time, 13% felt that situation in this field became better and 9% indicated it “rather improved”.
Respondents’ answers to a question about their main sources of information also revealed significant differences between residents of Grozny and residents of other capitals of North Caucasus republics. Thus, while in Nazran and Nalchik televison is the most important source of information for overwhelming majority of people, most respondents in Grozny (40%) indicated print media as their major information source. Among the most popular newspapers were indicated “Novaya Gazeta” (33%) and local newspaper “Groznensky Rabochii” (7%).
36% of respondents said television is their major source of information. Among most popular TV channels were NTV (13%), ChGTRK “Vainakh” (11%), RTR (10%) and ORT (2%). Friends and relatives (13%) proved to be the third most popular source of news and information. 7% of those polled indicated Internet as their major information source. Among the most popular sites were “Kavkaz-Centr” (4%) and site of “Chechnya Svobodnaya” (3%). International television (television channel Euronews) was mentioned as major source of news and information by 4% of respondents.