In mid-March the Russian Levada Center conducted a survey among 1,600 people across Russia. The main topic of the sociological research was the opinion of citizens about the conflict with Ukraine and Crimea annexation.
The study partially covered Belarus. When asked “What are the borders that you would like Russia to have in the future?”, 31% of respondents somehow wished that our country was annexed by the Russian Federation. Interestingly, compared with the previous year, the figure fell. Last year annexation was a dream for 52% of respondents.
It should be noted that the number of people who in the future want to see only Belarus as part of Russia grew by almost half – from 5 to 8%. If you believe the Levada Center, this is the first time there is such a great desire for our country to join Russia since the first such survey in 1998.
Tatsiana Chulitskaya, doctor of social sciences, EHU lecturer commented on the results of the opinion poll:
“These figures that show exclusively Belarus with Russia can be explained primarily by the fact that Russian citizens do not notice the obvious (at least in comparison with Ukraine and the Baltic countries) problems in relations with our country.
Probably, Belarus is the most quiet neighbor who does not seek to escape from the “brotherly custody”. At the same time, the number of respondents who do not consider Ukrainians one nation with the Russians, as can be seen from the data, is increasing.”
Tatsiana Chulitskaya adds that the last months clearly changed the attitude of Russians towards the politics in Ukraine. “We are now seeing feelings of anger there (number of people wishing the collapse of the country grew from 4% to 7%), which is fueled by ambition of “restoration of historical justice, the return of the territory of Russia” (an increase from 34% to 40%). Despite the fact that these ambitions and sense of national pride are today almost the only dividend of the Putin’s policy which he can offer to his supporters.”
“So amid all the difficulties, both in terms of the Ukrainian situation, as well as the Russian society and the prevailing sentiment, Belarusians kept the image of the least problematic “younger brother”, who still can be returned to a painful but ambitious Russian family,” said Tatsiana to Belsat.
