Russia divided on Gorbachev's role as president
MOSCOW. Feb 29 (Interfax) - A recent opinion poll conducted by the Public Opinion Foundation suggests that 18% of Russians sympathize with ex-Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev, 30% have a negative attitude towards him, and 48% are indifferent towards this politician.
The poll was held on February 21 and involved 1,500 respondents. Gorbachev will celebrate his 73rd birthday on Match 2.
Thinking back on the Gorbachev era, 32% of those surveyed said that at that time, their attitude towards Gorbachev was positive, 30% said it was negative, and 20% were indifferent.
Sixty-three percent do not share the belief, common in the West, that Gorbachev was an outstanding 20th century politician, while 24% think that he was a great statesman.
But as a personality, Gorbachev arouses sympathy among 39% of those polled, and antipathy among 35%.
Fifty-three percent of respondents said that Gorbachev did Russia more harm than good; 21% see positive and negative results in equal measure in his activities; and 11% said he did more good than harm.
Fifteen percent of those surveyed said that his main achievement was the beginning of democratic reform, and 7% said it was changes in Russia's foreign policy, including the withdrawal of Russian troops from Afghanistan, cooperation with the West, the end of the Cold War, the removal of the Iron Curtain, and the reunification of Germany.
Three percent of those polled credit Gorbachev with launching economic reforms and giving the go-ahead to the development of small businesses and market relations. Another 3% said that he "led the country out of stagnation and gave it an impetus to change."
However, most respondents did not like the way Gorbachev "awakened the country." "At first everything was going the right way, but then he ruined everything, causing the Soviet Union's breakup," said some 47% of respondents.
Thirteen percent of those polled argued that reforms launched by Gorbachev caused a socioeconomic crisis, destroyed the economy, spurred inflation, and led the nation into poverty and unemployment, while five percent blamed Gorbachev for initiating the anti-drinking campaign, destroying vineyards and forcing people to make homebrew.
Many blame Gorbachev for thoughtless and unskillful moves. "He either failed to carry his plans through to the end, or acted too vigorously," said 15% of respondents.
Rosbalt Survey: 50% of Russians Say Vladimir Putin Perfect
SAINT-PETERSBURG, February 27. 33% of Russians say the most positive quality of President Vladimir Putin is his youth, vigor, good health and professionalism, according to a recent ROMIR Monitoring survey. 22% said decency was the president's strongest attribute. 20% said that Putin looks after the interests of the people, 15% said he did not have harmful habits. 12% said Putin was open, conversational and strong-willed.
50% of Russians said Putin had no deficiencies. However, 16% of respondents said his character had an element of undecidedness. 9% said Putin was not looking after the interests of the people and could not form a successful governing administration. 1630 Russians took part in the survey which was conducted in 100 cities and villages from February 12 through February 17.