Most Russians regret USSR's disintegration, say it could have bee n avoided

ChrisD(RJ) chrisd at russiajournal.com
Tue Dec 31 01:23:32 PST 2002


Most Russians regret USSR's disintegration, say it could have been avoided - poll

MOSCOW. Dec 30 (Interfax) - Some 68% of Russians regret the disintegration of the Soviet Union. 25% hold the opposite opinion, and 7% found it hard to answer the question, the All-Russia Public Opinion Center told Interfax on Monday, referring to a poll of 1,600 respondents in December.

55% of respondents said the Soviet Union was a voluntary union of free republics.

34% said the Soviet Union retained the essence of the Russian Empire, which subordinated "small peoples" and denied them the right to self-determination. Meanwhile, 75% said the Soviet Union promoted the economic and cultural development of peoples. Every sixth respondent opposed this judgment.

29% of those polled said the disintegration of the Soviet Union was inevitable, but 59% said it could have been avoided. 12% found it difficult to answer the question.

As for the general state of Russia's relations with other CIS member-countries, 48% described these relations as "normal, friendly and neighborly," 35% described them as "cool," and 12% said they are "tense or even hostile."



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