Ukraine situation most common reason for political arguments among Russians - poll
MOSCOW. July 10 (Interfax) - Most Russians (72%) discuss political events in and outside their country, with 38% admitting they do so fairly often, sociologists found.
Interestingly, people living in Moscow and other cities with a population of over 1 million do so much more rarely than rural residents (25% and 38%, respectively, against 42%), according to the findings of a telephone survey conducted by the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM), which were unveiled on Thursday.
For 41% of respondents, the most common political opponents are their relatives with whom they discuss issues concerning the world order; yet another 28% engage in political debates with their friends and 26% with their acquaintances and neighbors.
There were particularly many people among young respondents and those of the pre-retirement age (50-51%) whose opponents are from their social circle. Respondents aged over 60 accounted for 30%.
The survey involved 1,000 adult respondents one-fifth of whom (20%) admitted sometimes discussing political events with total strangers and 48% confirmed political debates occur in their families.
Meanwhile, 45% respondents said there are situation when their friends and families have opposite views on certain political events, with 3% having serious rows and 5% even breaking up over their different views on events.
The situation in Ukraine and Russia's re-union with Crimea have lately been the most common reasons for political differences among Russians. It is on these issues, according to 16% respondents, that various views developed during their discussions.
Also, Russians most often differ in their views on Russian presidential and State Duma elections, government performance (3% in each case), their attitude towards political parties and their leaders (1%).
Overall, 23% respondents confirmed having no intention to strike close friendship with people of alien political views. Among these they named primarily fascists and the neo-Nazi (5% and 2%, respectively). Yet another 2% said they could not possibly be friends with anyone who is against Russia and the Russians; with terrorists and extremists; and those who do not support the Russian president (1%).
