Over quarter of Georgians would trade European integration for better relations with Russia - poll
TBILISI. July 27 (Interfax) - Georgian citizens unwaveringly support the policy of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, the U.S.-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) said in a poll report published on Wednesday.
Some 64% of respondents supported Georgia's entry into NATO, and 72% spoke in favor of integration with the European Union.
Most citizens believe that European and Euro-Atlantic integration will be good for the country, the NDI said.
Twenty-nine percent of respondents said they would trade integration with the West for better relations with Russia.
The research authors noted that respondents who had chosen their favorites in the upcoming parliamentary elections and those who had not maintained different opinions on the political course.
Voters who have made their choice are more enthusiastic about European and Euro-Atlantic integration, the NDI said, adding that 58% of voters who had made up their mind supported the course towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration, and the indicator stood at 49% amongst those who had yet to decide. The first group of respondents was also more inclined to support exclusively pro-Western policy (17%) than the second group (11%), NDI said.
According to the poll, 23% of the Georgian population, including most people in places of compact residence of ethnic minorities, learned national and international news from the Russian media rather than from local sources.
Those using Russian media sources have different views on foreign policy and exhibit skepticism about plans of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, it said.
A total of 4,113 were interviewed across Georgia in the period from June 8 till July 6. NDI research is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). Polls are conducted by the Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC).