Russians see the incorporation of Crimea and the Sochi Winter Olympic Games as the most significant domestic events of the outgoing year and the Ukraine situation as the most important global affair, the Public Opinion Foundation reports.
The respondents were asked to name the event of the year.
The joining of Russia by Crimea and Sevastopol (33 percent) and the Sochi Games (32 percent) topped the list. The Ukraine situation ranked third (7 percent).
Other events were mentioned much less frequently. Assistance provided to southeastern Ukraine, the taking in of refugees, Western sanctions imposed on Russia and Russian retaliatory sanctions, inflation, the ruble fall and growing prices, the Kazan Universiade and other events were mentioned by one percent of respondents each. Twenty-two percent were undecided.
As to the global events of 2014, Russians put the Ukraine situation on top of the list (41 percent).
Five percent mentioned the incorporation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia, 4 percent – Western sanctions on Russia and the Sochi Games, and 3 percent – deteriorated relations between Russia and Western countries.
One percent spoke about Russia’s retaliatory sanctions, the Malaysian Boeing crash in Ukraine, the Syrian events, the ISIL, the Ebola virus, the FIFA World Cup and some other events. Thirty-six percent could not answer the question.
The Public Opinion Foundation polled 1,500 respondents in 43 regions on Dec. 7.
