MOSCOW. March 2 (Interfax) - Tovarishch or 'comrade' has remained the most popular form of addressing a person in Russia since Soviet times: nearly one third (29%) of those polled by the Romir Monitoring company address others this way while 15% address others as 'citizen.'
Only one in ten Russians addresses others as 'lady' or 'gentlemen' and only one out of 100 respondents uses the old fashioned sudari i sudaryni or 'sirs' and 'madams,' Romir Monitoring reported to Interfax after questioning nearly 1,600 people across Russia in February.
The term 'comrade' is favored by veterans over 60 with primary or incomplete secondary education as well as by managers (26%) and people serving in the military (24%).
People with incomplete higher or higher education prefer the addresses 'lady' and 'gentleman.' This form of courtesy also prevails among employers.
The unemployed (26%) prefer the address 'citizen.'