Sanctions Hitting Upper Middle of Russian Society but the Lower Half Not at All, Fyodorov Says

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Mar. 8 – Sanctions are hitting different strata of Russian society very differently: the very top not all that much, the upper middle strata significantly, and the lower half not at all, Valery Fyodorov of the Kremlin-linked VTsIOM polling agency says in a Facebook post.

            He says that the top 0.5 percent of the population are experiencing some impact but also have resources that enable them to avoid the worst. Those in the upper middle class (4.5 percent) are being hit hard, while those in the middle middle (15 percent) are being hit harder and have fewer defenses (facebook.com/Fedorov.Valery.WCIOM/posts/10216903778905853).

            The lower middle class, approximately 30 percent of the population is suffering only an average impact from the sanctions, while the lower class, about 40 percent of the population, Fyodorov says, is suffering much less; and the underclass, about 10 percent of the population, is not feeling any impact at all.

            Thus, the VTsIOM sociologist concludes, “the main blow [from sanctions] is on the upper middle layers.” They, the ones most committed to keeping Russia open to the outside world, are panicking, something “quite rational considering their lifestyles.” Those above and below them aren’t, which is “also rational” given their situations.