MOSCOW, 4 December (BelTA) – The majority of Russians consider Belarus the most successful and stable country in the CIS. The results of the opinion poll conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VtsIOM) were presented in a press conference in Moscow on 4 December, BelTA has learned.
As many as 68% of those polled believe that Belarus is the most stable and successful country in the CIS. Kazakhstan goes second (52%) and is followed by Azerbaijan (16%), Armenia (14%), Georgia (12%), Uzbekistan (10%), Turkmenistan (8%). Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan polled 5% each, Moldova 4%, and Ukraine 2%.
Belarus also placed atop in the list of countries that seek closer economic cooperation with Russia and support it in the international arena. As many as 60% of Russians shared this opinion. Kazakhstan is second (47%). It is followed by Armenia (13%), Uzbekistan (10%), Azerbaijan (9%). Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Georgia scored 6% each. Respondents named Moldova (4%), Turkmenistan (3%), and Ukraine (1%) as the CIS states least willing to develop cooperation with Russia.
Head of Research Department at VtsIOM Stepan Lvov said that the center has been conducting such surveys annually for the past eight years. Over the time the leaders in the polls have remained the same: Belarus always goes first, Kazakhstan second.
VtsIOM carried out the opinion poll by telephone on 8 November. The survey involved 1,600 people. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.
