Sociologists fix increased optimism towards economic problems of Northern Caucasus

The squeezing of North-Caucasian problems out of focus of public by the anti-Western and anti-Ukrainian rhetoric has led to increased positive attitude towards the situation in Northern Caucasus. This was the comment of "Levada Centre" experts on the outcome of their social poll, conducted on June 19-22.

Only 16% of respondents answered that money are less efficiently spent in the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) than in other regions of Russia, or stolen (15%). In 2013, these viewpoints were supported by 47% of respondents.

Respondents also felt that in the last 10 years Northern Caucasus a reduction in the level of terrorism. This question was answered positively by 48% of respondents (in 2013, there were 40% of them).

With regard to a possible separation of Chechnya from Russia, only 6% said that it had actually taken place (in 2000-2013, the figure fluctuated between 10% and 15%).

The previous poll, conducted in May, fixed a certain reduction in the number of Russians, who consider the situation in Northern Caucasus calm and are confident in its future improvement.

In the opinion of Lev Gudkov, the Director of the "Levada Centre", the growing number of those who consider the spending of money in Northern Caucasus effective, is associated with a general decline in the level of criticism of the authorities. According to Mr Gudkov, there is a gradual increase of indifference to Caucasian topics, which is especially notably in relation to the issue about possible separation of Chechnya.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.