Majority of Stavropol residents give negative assessment of work of Stavropolsky Region's governor
It should be noticed that while assessing current social and economic situation in Kabardino-Balkaria, respondents based their opinions on changes in their own incomes and expenses. Thus, majority of those who gave positive assesment to social and economic situation in the republic, are employed in the budget sphere. At the same time, majority of critically-minded respondents who evaluated economic situation negatively, are mostly small entrepreneurs running their private businesses.
Respondents’ opinions about security situation in Kabardino-Balkaria in the first half of 2006 proved to be quite mixed, although majority of those polled tended to describe changes in security sphere in rather positive terms. Thus, 34% of respondents noted that security situation in their republic “improved” and 26% - “rather improved”. 18% stated that security situation did not change while 7% felt that the situation “deteriorated” and 3% - “rather deteriorated”. Quite high percentage of respondents – 12% - reported difficulties in evaluating security situation.
It is worth of noting that majority of those who reported improvements in security situation explained their choice by the fact that there were no repetitions of such events as terrorist act in Nalchik committed on 13 October 2005 when Kabardino-Balkarian capital was attacked by the groups of armed extremists. This provides evidence to a fact that the situation in security sphere of Kabardino-Balkaria is still considered by the residents of the republic through their perception of the 13 October events.
Overall, comparative analysis of the results of the most recent and former opinion polls conducted in Kabardino-Balkarian capital of Nalchik indicates that there emerged a certain tendency of replacing public pessimism, which used to prevail in Kabardino-Balkaria one year ago with somewhat cautious optimism, which is supported by partial realizations of the promises given by Arsen Kanokov at the very beginning of his presidential term. More specifically, Kanokov replaced some representatives of the republican executive power thus turning into reality his earlier promise to reshuffle and to renew republican government. This measure not only helped Kanokov to get additional support from significant part of the population but also to redirect public attention from the President to a newly formed government.
Results of the research indicate that in spite of quite widespread dissatisfaction with the situation in the republic, residents of Kabardino-Balkaria extended their confidence to President Arsen Kanokov for some more time. Problems Arsen Kanokov is currently facing were accumulated during many years before his coming to power, but timeframe set for their solving by Kabardino-Balkarian society can be limited.
This public opinion poll was held in the framework of “Public Opinion in the North Caucasus” Project, which is being conducted for the second consecutive year in all North Caucasus republics. Responses to all questions are indicated in percentages with the margin of error 4%. This research was conducted by the Information Agency Caucasus Times in cooperation with “Independent Opinion” Center, Czech Republic. “Independent Opinion” Center is exploring public opinion in crisis regions and hot spots.
NORTH OSSETIA: 88% OF THOSE POLLED IN VLADIKAVKAZ ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH INVESTIGATION OF BESLAN SCHOOL-SEIZURE CASE
PRAGUE, 5 September, Caucasus Times. Public opinion poll conducted by information agency Caucasus Times in Vladikavkaz on 25 August – 2 September this year indicated that overwhelming majority of those polled were basically unanimous in their negative assessment of the results of the investigation of Beslan scholl-seizure case. Two years ago Beslan school was attacked and seized by a group of armed terrorists, which resulted in a mass killing of children and civilians. 64% of those polled assessed the results of the investigation “negatively” and 24% - “rather negatively” while nobody gave the investigation “positive” or even “rather positive” assessment. 12% found it difficult to answer this questions. Clarifying their negative attitudes towards the results of the investigation, many respondents questioned the official version of the terrorist act in Beslan school. In particular, they expressed their suspicion that the authorities and prosecutor’s office deliberately provided incorrect and misleading picture of what had really happened in Beslan school indicating that the main perpetrator of a crime remained quite obscure for them.
