These figures were harvested in a representative survey of 1,500 respondents interviewed at places of their residence in 100 settlements of 44 regions, territories and republics of Russia and additional questioning of 600 Muscovites, on January 29-30, 2005. The statistical mistake does not exceed 3.6 percent.
Every second respondent (50%) is certain that Russia and Ukraine maintain good relations (the opposite view is shared by 21 percent of the polled). As to the share of those who consider that Ukraine is seeking rapprochement with Russia rather than with the West, it has not changed (making today 27 percent).
The Russians treat the recently-elected president prevailingly in the negative: he is rejected twice as often as accepted (27% and 13%). Many think at this that Yushchenko has not won in a fair victory.
Asked why Yushchenko came victorious at the presidential elections, one third of the polled answered that it was due to powerful financial injections, including from the West (21% of the respondents), or by rigging (11%). Yushchenko's victory was attributed to the support of the population and a good election campaign by 16 percent.
