MINSK, 16 December (BelTA) - More than 76% of Belarusians view the relations between Belarus and Russia as friendly and normal, Sergei Musiyenko, director of the EcooM think tank, told the media as he commented on the results of the opinion poll "Belarus. A Vision of the Future” conducted by the Institute of Sociology at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, BelTA has learned.
Respondents show a high interest in foreign policy, the state of relations with the closest neighbors and strategic partners of the Republic of Belarus. Thus, in assessing the relations between Belarus and Russia, 41% of the respondents called the current relations between the two countries friendly, fraternal, 35.5% - normal, calm. Only 3.7% called the relations between Belarus and Russia tense.
12.9% found it difficult to answer.
"Belarus pursues a multi-vector policy. At the same time, Russia has been and remains the priority. Therefore, the results of the poll once again emphasize the closeness of our peoples. This once again says that we are on the right track," said First Vice-Rector of the Belarusian State Academy of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Svetlana Vinokurova.
In the run-up to the national referendum, the Institute of Sociology at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus jointly with the EcooM think tank conducted the public opinion poll “Belarus. A Vision of the Future”. The survey was carried out from 15 November to 4 December 2021 and polled 10,217 respondents, mainly economically active population. The sampling was multi-stage, stratified (by region and type of settlement), with quotas by sex and age. The study covered all regions of Belarus, Minsk, 52 districts (including 9 districts of the capital city), almost 350 organizations and enterprises in various sectors and of different forms of ownership.
Citizens welcomed the survey and the interest of sociologists in their position and assessments. People perceived the survey as an opportunity to convey their opinion about the current processes and the future of the country. Citizens spoke in favor of conducting more sociological research. During a lively discussion with pollsters, respondents raised issues of water supply, construction of social and leisure infrastructure facilities, quality and accessibility of medical care, and other issues. All requests and complaints were documented and submitted to the local authorities.
