For restricting the rights of “non-Russians”...

On October 3, 2006 "Levada-Center" published the results of the traditional review "The Socio-Political Situation in Russia in September 2006".

The review used the results of the polls "Courier" (1600 people, September 15-18 and September 22-25) and "Monitoring" (2100 people, September).

In particular, the review touches upon the most important events of the summer-autumn of 2006 related to manifestations of xenophobia.

So, to the question "What does the explosion at the Cherkizovsky market in Moscow mean?" The most common explanation given by the respondents was "this is a protest action against the dominance of immigrants from the Caucasus" - 37% of the respondents.

28% consider this to be evidence of the inability of the authorities to ensure order and normal relations between people of different nationalities in Russia,

21% consider it a simple hooligan trick,

only 12% call it "the crime of the fascists, who call themselves the defenders of the Russian people", and the same number do not know anything or find it difficult to answer.

When asked about their assessment of the events in Kondopoga, the respondents answered as follows:

27% of respondents believe that these events are based on "provocative behavior of Caucasians",

15% see the tension of interethnic relations in Russia as the basis of what happened,

13% - a skirmish between criminal gangs,

10% - corruption of local authorities, and the same number blame the inaction of the police, unemployment and the plight of local residents,

6% - domestic conflict.

34% do not know anything about what happened or do not give an answer.

As a sore point, closely related to the growth of xenophobic sentiments, sociologists have identified the problem of the war in Chechnya:

57% of respondents tend to consider Chechens the same citizens of Russia as Russians living in various regions of the federation, 37% disagree with this. However, at the same time, sociologists note that "moods of anger and revenge have less effect on the perceptions of Russian citizens about Chechens."

In addition, the respondents were asked the question "What should be done to prevent interethnic conflicts in Russia?" As the experts of the Levada Center note, "the search for an answer to this question reveals confusion and disorientation in public opinion, which is often influenced by nationalist and chauvinistic attitudes" .

52% of respondents tend to support the official recognition of Russia as the "state of the Russian people", in which all non-Russians and visitors can live and work with certain restrictions.

40% do not agree with this (the survey emphasizes that people do not agree with the anti-democratic and anti-constitutional proposal, but whether this was the assessment of the respondents, or the assessment of the authors of the review is not entirely clear).

44% said they would approve of limiting publications in the media about everyday, hooligan and other conflicts between people of different nationalities in order to prevent inciting ethnic hatred. 35% object to this.

At the same time, 66% of the respondents agree that the personal influence of the top leaders of the state and other authoritative figures should be used in order to create in society an atmosphere of intolerance towards the attacks of nationalists. 17% object to this.

Sources

• Socio-political situation in Russia in September 2006 // Levada Center. 2006. October 3rd.