Russia 2010 Survey

Elections in Russia have become steadily less 'open' since the Beslan hostage-taking crisis of 2004. The most important changes include: 1) an entirely new election law that abolishes the single-member constituencies and thus all independents; 2) abolition of the direct election of regional governors; 3) abolition of the 'against all' voting facility; and 4) abolition of minimum turnout requirements. Taken together, these changes have been described as a form of 'nondemocratic consolidation' that is intended to provide an indefinite tenure of office for the ruling group that is presently concentrated around the Putin-Medvedev presidency. This study comprises a national survey conducted in 2010 that interviewed people from a representative cross-section of the Russian adult (18 years and over) population. It covered self-assessed living standards and the economic crisis that began to affect Russia in late 2008, attitudes towards civic institutions and political leaders, electoral behaviour and social life, including media consumption and religious activity. The survey also collected responses on a variety of foreign policy issues, including 'friends and foes' among other nations, and attitudes towards NATO and the European Union