"Levada-Centre": Russians lose optimism about situation in Northern Caucasus

The number of Russians, who consider the situation in Northern Caucasus prosperous, is reducing, indicates the latest opinion poll conducted by the "Levada-Centre". According to sociologists, the "Crimean syndrome" is gradually ceasing to affect the moods of Russians; and, in parallel, people are losing confidence in the stabilization of situation in the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in 2015 sociologists of the "Levada-Centre" registered a growth in Russians’ optimistic assessments of the situation in Northern Caucasus, and reduction of negative ones. Experts attributed this to the fact that mass media practically give no critical footage about the situation in Northern Caucasus, as well as to the effect of the "Crimean syndrome" – a reduction of the level of claims to the authorities in connection with the events in Ukraine.

In the course of the poll conducted by the "Levada-Centre" on January 22-25, 2016, residents of Russia were once again asked about the situation in Northern Caucasus. To the question "How would you assess the today's situation in Northern Caucasus?" 45% of respondents treated it as strained. In January 2014, this answer was given by 60% of respondents, but in January 2015 – only 40% of them.

The situation in the region was described as trouble-free and calm by 35% of respondents; in January 2014, 18% responded like that, and a jump up to 44% was recorded in January 2015.

A decreased optimism was noticed already in summer of 2015, said Stepan Goncharov, an employee of the "Levada-Centre".

"It was due to the fact that the topic of national unity began to gradually fade out after Ukraine fell out of sight of mass media and people. The situation in Syria does not contribute to a similar unification against the enemy. As a result, all the topics that were pressing before Ukraine began to return – migration, Northern Caucasus and so on," Goncharov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

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