According to a new survey conducted by the independent Levada Center and published by Open Media, 27 percent of Russians consider mass protests possible at the present time, due to falling living standards. On the other hand, 61 percent of respondents believe such demonstrations are unlikely.
Respondents were also asked if they were likely to participate in such protests, should they occur: 28 percent responded positively, while 68 percent responded negatively.
Open Media notes that these are the highest numbers seen in favor of protests in the past year and a half. According to past surveys, the previous “peak” in protest activity was in the fall of 2018, when Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the law on pension reform. In November 2018, 30 percent of Russian citizens were prepared to come out in protest.
(C)MEDUZA 2020
The Ruskies can fall a lot further before they can muster enough courage to protest. The Ukrainians showed a lot more courage in this regard, thus far.