Russians Feel Less Connected to But More Responsible for Former Union Republics than They Did 30 Years Ago, VTsIOM Polls Show

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Apr. 25 – The VTsIOM polling agency, which is closely linked to the Kremlin, says that over the course of the last three decades, Russians have seen their links to the people of the other union republics decline; but at the same time, they have increasingly come to believe that Russia and Russians bear responsibility for stability and security across the region.

            Over the last 30 years, the share of Russians who feel connected by family ties or friendships with people in other former union republics has dropped to the point that 74 percent now say they don’t have such ties, up from 52 percent in 1993 (wciom.ru/analytical-reviews/analiticheskii-obzor/rossija-na-prostranstve-byvshego-sssr-monitoring).

            But over the same period, the share of Russians who believe that their country is uniquely responsible for peace and stability across the former Soviet space has risen from 65 percent in 1993 to 80 percent now – although the percentage saying the opposite has also risen from 10 percent 30 years ago to 14 percent now.

            Presumably these last two figures include the three percent in 1993 and the 11 percent now that VTsIOM found who believe that Russia is pursuing an imperialistic policy with respect to its neighbors.