POST-SOVIET BALTICS UNFRIENDLY TO RUSSIA, HOLDS MAJORITY

Subscribe
MOSCOW, March 25 (RIA Novosti) - Approximately two thirds of the Russian population think the post-Soviet Baltic countries are biased against Russia. 64 per cent said so with reference to Latvia. The same opinion concerning Lithuania and Estonia came from 61 per cent for either country.

The figures come from a probe the Public Opinion foundation made, March 19 into 20, in a hundred settlements of 44 Russian Federation constituent entities-regions, territories and republics. 1,500 respondents were interviewed in their residence places. 600 Muscovites also answered supplementary questionnaires. Statistical error is within 3.6 per cent.

A mere 14-15 per cent of respondents referred to the three Baltic countries as friendly. More than a half-56 per cent, to be precise-would like relations with them to improve, while 11 per cent were dead set against whatever rapprochement.

Roughly a half of respondents had paid attention to information about the Lithuanian and Estonian presidents refusing to come to Moscow for V-E Day 60th anniversary galas. 34 per cent said they knew it. "We've heard something like that," said another 19 per cent. A spectacular 45 per cent had no idea of the matter, and the interview was the first instance on which they heard the news.

Only a half of the respondents chose to answer what, they thought, underlay the refusal. Some ascribed it to a post-Soviet Baltic public prejudice against V-E celebrations. 10 per cent highlighted nationalist and pro-fascist moods widespread in those countries. 8 per cent alleged a public bias against Russia and ethnic Russians. 2 per cent accused the post-Soviet Baltics of arrogance and bloated ambition. 8 per cent said those countries regarded Russia not as their liberator in World War II but as aggressor. 1 per cent pointed out their grudges against Russia, stored since the past.

A mere 27 per cent of the respondents said the Soviet Union had incorporated the three Baltic countries against their will. 34 per cent were sure those countries had voluntarily joined the USSR. A mere 9 per cent said the Soviet years were bad to those three countries. 65 per cent are sure the Soviet rule was to their benefit.

76 per cent qualified the presidents' refusal to attend Moscow galas as an unfriendly move, while only 11 per cent think otherwise.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала