A
new survey, conducted by Russian Public Opinion Research Center
(VCIOM), M-Vector, Ipsos, Expert Fikri and Qafqaz in 11
countries of the former Soviet Union, at the request
of Sputnik news agency and radio, shows
that the residents of 9 out of 11 surveyed former Soviet countries
aged over 35 believe that life in the USSR was better than it has
been since the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Also read: Life was better under Communism" says the majority of Russians, Romanians and Eastern Germans.
MOSCOW (sputniknews.com) -
Some 64% of respondents in Russia who lived in Soviet
times believe that the quality of life in the Soviet Union
was better. About 60% of respondents in Ukraine agreed
with this statement. The
survey showed
that the highest rates of agreement with this statement are
found among respondents in Armenia (71%) and Azerbaijan
(69%). Those respondents who do not remember living in the USSR,
those aged 18-24, believe that life has improved since the
collapse. Some 63% of young people in Russia think so.
People
over 35 believe that life was better in the USSR, compared
to the post-breakup period, almost in every country: 71%
against 23% in Armenia, 69% against 29% in Azerbaijan,
64% against 28% in Russia, 60% against 32% in Moldova,
61% against 27% in Kazakhstan, 60% against 23%
in Ukraine, 60% against 30% in Kyrgyzstan, 53%
against 28% in Belarus, and 51% against 46%
in Georgia. Only respondents from Tajikistan (39%
against 55%) and Uzbekistan (4% against 91%) aged over 35
believe that life improved after the collapse of the Soviet
Union.
Respondents
(under 25) who were born after or shortly before the
collapse of the Soviet Union believe that life is better now:
48% against 47% in Armenia, 48% against 37%
in Kyrgyzstan, 56% against 35% in Kazakhstan, 57%
against 34% in Belarus, 79% against 20% in Georgia,
39% against 18% in Ukraine, 63% against 25% in Russia,
68% against 14% in Azerbaijan, 84% against 13%
in Tajikistan and 89% against 5% in Uzbekistan. And it
is only in Moldova that 69% of young people believe that
life was better in the Soviet Union than after it collapsed
(17%).
The
survey was conducted by VCIOM in Russia, M-Vector
in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as Ipsos, Expert
Fikri and Qafqaz in other countries of the former Soviet
Union from July 4 to August 15, 2016. A total of 12,645
respondents took part in the survey. The survey involved 1,000
respondents each in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, 1,045 respondents
in Uzbekistan, 2,000 in Ukraine and 1,600 in Russia.
The samples used represent the respective country's population
by sex, age and location. The maximum sampling error does not
exceed 3.1% with a 95%
confidence level.
