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Less people condemn Russian ex-president's launch of military action in Chechnya — poll

Over two thirds of Russians (69%) condemn Yeltsin’s decision to launch military actions in Chechnya in December 1994, while 8 years ago the figure stood at 81%

MOSCOW, December 29. /TASS/. Over two thirds of Russians (69%) condemn Russia’s first president Boris Yeltsin's decision to launch military actions in Chechnya in December 1994, the All-Russia Fund for Studies of Public Opinion (VTSIOM) said on Monday. The figure significantly differs from 81% eight years ago.

More than half of respondents (59%) said that Yeltsin’s eight years in power resulted in negative consequences for the country, according to the survey. Just 15% of the polled viewed Yeltsin’s presidency favorably. Some 60% of respondents said during his presidency Yeltsin failed to fulfill most of his plans.

According to the poll, 85% of Russians believe that the best thing Russia’s first president Boris Yeltsin did for the country was to pass the reins of leadership to Vladimir Putin.

Yeltsin chose the last day of 1999 to announce his resignation six months ahead of schedule and transfer power to his successor Putin, who served as Russia’s prime minister at that time.

The poll was conducted in 46 Russian regions on December 20-21 during which 1,600 respondents were interviewed. A statistical margin error was no more than 3.5%