All news

Russians see Belarus as the most reliable partner — opinion poll

According to the poll, Belarus and Kazakhstan have won support of 66 and 45% of respondents accordingly, while Ukraine is at the bottom of the list

MOSCOW, December 15. /TASS/. Belarus and Kazakhstan, where ethnic Russians face no ethnic discrimination, enjoy the biggest trust in Russia among the former Soviet republics, results from public opinion poll by VTSIOM Public Opinion Studies Foundation suggested on Monday.

According to pollster’s chairman of the board, Konstantin Abramov, Belarus and Kazakhstan have won support of 66 and 45% of respondents accordingly, while Ukraine is at the bottom of the list amid hostilities against its largely Russian-speaking east.

Survey returns from 1,600 people over 18 years of age put Azerbaijan third with 10%, followed by Armenia with 9%.

Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and Moldova have been supported by 5% of the polled Russian nationals. A meager 2% of respondents would put credit in Ukraine, the poll suggested.

Belarus is seen as the most reliable partner, winning 65% support. 7% of polled Russian nationals said they would trust Armenia, and another 5% chose Kyrgyzstan. Only 3% see Ukraine as a reliable partner, the poll suggests.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev are the most reputable leaders in the Commonwealth of Independent States, with 61 and 38% of support in their favour.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has won the sympathy of only 1% of respondents.