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TWO-THIRDS OF RUSSIANS DISSATISFIED WITH STATE'S ATTENTION TO ARMY

RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, February 18 (RIA Novosti) - About two-thirds of Russians are convinced that today the state is not paying due attention to the problems of the Russian army (65%) and that its financing is insufficient (61%).

These are the results of the all-Russia representative poll conducted by the Public Opinion foundation in 100 settlements of 44 regions, territories and republics of the Russian Federation on February 12-13. All in all, 1,500 Russians plus 600 Muscovites were polled. The statistic error is 3.6%.

On the whole society is dissatisfied with the current situation in the Russian army. Most Russians consider it bad or very bad (51%) while 29% consider it satisfactory and 6% think it is good.

According to 36% of the polled, the situation in the Russian army is not changing and 28% believe it is changing for the worse. Only 19% see some improvements.

Most Russians (61%) believe that the army should comprise both contract servicemen and draftees. According to 22% of the polled, an army formed only on the contractual basis is the best variant for Russia. Only 5% are of the opposite opinion.

Supporters of the contractual army are mainly people with rightist views (41% of the voters for the Union of Right Forces and Yabloko parties) and with high education (35%).