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More people in Russia reject nationalism after recent dramatic developments in Ukraine

The poll conducted by Russian Public Opinion Research Center (WCIOM) showed that 57% of the respondents supported the idea of Russia as a multinational state
Nationalists march in Moscow, May 2014 ITAR-TASS/Zurab Dzhavakhadze
Nationalists march in Moscow, May 2014
© ITAR-TASS/Zurab Dzhavakhadze

MOSCOW, June 24. /ITAR-TASS/. The recent political developments in Ukraine and the "Russian spring" in Crimea have triggered growing negative attitude of Russian citizens to any forms of nationalism, a public opinion poll conducted by WCIOM (Russian Public Opinion Research Center) in April-May 2014 showed.

A total of 57% of the respondents said that Russia should be a multinational state. This opinion has been equally shared by the youth and people over 60, residents of cities with a population of one million or more and residents of rural areas. In November 2013, the number of the people who wanted to see Russia as a multinational state was only 44%.

The number of respondents who said that all citizens in Russia should have equal rights was 57% in 2014 against 37% in a similar poll held last November.

However, a total of 38% of the respondents said that ethnic Russians in the country should unite to defend their interests, which has been repeteadly emphasized by supporters of the LDPR party (54%). A total of 26% of the respondents said that ethnic Russians as the nation constituting a majority in Russia should be given more rights, ten percent of the respondents said Russia should be "a state for the Russian people".

Most of the supporters of nationalist ideas were people who did not approve of the activity of the Russian president, a number of respondents from Moscow and St. Petersburg, a few people aged 25-34 and Internet users.

The poll was conducted in 130 settlements in 42 regions of Russia, and 1,600 respondents were interviewed.