The number of Russians pointing to an increase in tension in interethnic relations has almost halved compared to 2005 – from 41% to 24%. The proportion of respondents who believe that interethnic relations in the country have not changed (from 35% to 40%) or have become more tolerant (from 17% to 27%) has increased. According to the poll, increased tension is felt most in the Northwestern Federal District (49%), least in the Ural Federal District (14%).
Experts and human rights activists note a rise in Russia in the number of crimes committed on the grounds of ethnic hostility. According to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, over four months (from December 2007 to March 2008), more than 40 people died as a result of ethnically motivated attacks in major Russian cities.
The results of the VTsIOM poll indicate that the attitude toward mass immigration in Russia remains negative. Two-thirds of respondents (68%) have a bad attitude toward the large number of arrivals from other countries, calling it a “negative phenomenon.” This opinion is especially common among residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg (75%). Over two years, the number of Russians who consider this phenomenon positive has decreased from 21% to 15%. At the same time, the number of those who find it difficult to assess has increased (from 10% to 17%).
The initiative all-Russian VTsIOM poll was conducted on May 31 – June 1, 2008. 1,600 people were surveyed in 153 localities in 46 oblasts, krais, and republics of Russia. The statistical margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.