Ever More Russians are Sharing Their Anger about Regime, New Poll Finds

Paul Goble

            Staunton, April 13 – For months, polls have shown that Russians are increasingly unhappy with the Russian powers that be; but now, a new survey shows that they have passed yet another marker on the path to more open demonstrations of that anger: more than half of all Russians say they are hearing criticism of the regime from families and acquaintances.

            According to the Public Opinion Foundation, 63 percent of Russians in the course of the last month say they have heard family or friends criticize the powers that be, an increase of two percent over the month before. Only a third said they had not heard such comments (actualcomment.ru/nedovolstvo-rastet-rossiyane-stali-chashche-kritikovat-vlast-1904131220.html).

            Given that only 45 percent say that they personally feel that way, this development means that the anger they feel is now being communicated to others, something that will along with deteriorating economic and social conditions lead to a more dramatic increase in anger than would otherwise be the case and make protests more likely. 

            That is because such comments have the effect of legitimizing and crystallizing feelings among those who until now have not been willing to admit to themselves just how upset they may be with the situation.