A third of Russians support the early release of Mikhail Khodorkovsky

On the eve of the anniversary of the former head of YUKOS Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who turns 50 today, Levada Center conducted a survey among 1.6 thousand residents of 130 settlements in 45 regions of the country.

According to the survey results , 33% of Russians are in favor of the early release of Khodorkovsky. 16% of respondents are against his release, 52% found it difficult to answer.

Half of Russians - 49% - do not follow the fate of the ex-head of YUKOS, 18% have not heard anything about him. About 8% of respondents are closely monitoring what is happening with Khodorkovsky, 23% are more or less monitoring.

Khodorkovsky remains in prison because of his political beliefs, 19% of Russians believe. “His release could create problems for those who misappropriated Yukos,” say 28% of respondents. Khodorkovsky is in prison because high-ranking government officials experience personal hostility, said 13% of respondents. 2% of Russians believe that Khodorkovsky is not being released because he constantly violates the regime of the correctional labor colony, 3% are sure that he is socially dangerous, another 7% believe that not all the crimes of the ex-head of YUKOS have been solved. 28% found it difficult to answer.

At the same time, 11% of respondents said they were ready to vote for Khodorkovsky in the elections if he ran for president of Russia. 67% would not vote for him.

The majority of Russians (74%) did not feel any benefit from the fact that Yukos was taken away from Khodorkovsky. About 3% believe that there was benefit, another 3% said that in such cases one cannot talk about direct benefit, we are talking about the restoration of law and justice.

To the question "What would be better for Russia - for people like Khodorkovsky to be imprisoned or to work for the good of the country?" 44% answered that it would be better to work, 12% - that it would be better to be in prison, 45% of respondents found it difficult to answer.

The bankruptcy and sale of YUKOS benefited officials and a group of businessmen close to power, according to 71% of respondents. 26% do not know who benefited from it, 3% are sure that it benefited the entire population.

3% of Russians are confident that the money received from the sale of YUKOS at one time went to the development of housing and communal services. 78% disagree with them.