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Poll: Most Russians indifferent to Khodorkovsky’s early release

The Public Opinion Foundation polled 1,500 people in 100 populated localities on December 29, 2013
Mikhail Khodorkovsky ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Pochuyev
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
© ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Pochuyev

MOSCOW, January 10. /ITAR-TASS/. The early release of ex-YUKOS chief Mikhail Khodorkovsky has been an insignificant event for most Russians. The level of support for the pardoned oil tycoon remains low, Russian political scientists told Itar-Tass on Friday.

An early parole for Khodorkovsky has left 41% of the Russians indifferent, the Public Opinion Foundation wrote on its official website.

Sociologists believe that 38% of respondents considered Khodorkovsky’s release to be “insignificant” for Russia. Only 7 percent expect the businessman’s release to have some positive consequences for the country. In the meantime, 8% of respondents believe that the consequences will be more negative rather than positive.

At the same time, 41% of the Russians replied that they were indifferent to Khodorkovsy’s release; 13% said their attitude to the tycoon’s release was positive while the reaction of 11% of respondents was negative.

Asked about the general attitude to Khodorkovsky, 41% replied that their attitude was indifferent; 9% said that it was positive compared to 15% who said that their attitude was negative; 30% of respondents said that they did not know who Khodorkovsky was and 15% hesitated to give any answer.

The Public Opinion Foundation polled 1,500 people in 100 populated localities on December 29, 2013. The statistical error does not exceed 3.6%.