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Unification of Adygea and Krasnodar region: 22% For, 39% Against

During the period of April 12-17, journalists from the information agency Caucasus Times conducted a survey in Maykop, the capital of Adygea to find out people’s views on the current situation in the Republic and planned unification of Adygea and the Krasnodar Region.

In response to the question about he most acute problems in Adygea, the overwhelming majority (93%) indicated social and economic issues, 28% security; 19% relations amongst various nationalities; and 5% religion.

The question about possible results of the planned unification revealed a significant difference of opinion. Although 31% believed that unification "will improve the situation in Adygea," yet the same percentage of respondents felt quite the opposite and believed the situation "would only worsen." 16% believe it "will rather worsen", while 14% expect that it "would rather improve" and 8% refused to answer the question.

Regarding the unification of Adygea and Krasnodar region, 39% stated their willingness to vote against it, while 22% intended to support it. 21% were "likely to support it” and 12% were "likely not to." Therefore, from the entire population of Maykop a percentage of those inclined to say "yes" or "possibly yes" to uniting with Krasnodar region comprises 43%, while the number of those against or possibly against stands at 51%. Only 6% of those interviewed failed to answer this question, which indicates that most of the people do have personal opinions about this matter.

The attitude of the people as a whole on cancelling elections of regional governors and being appointed directly by the Kremlin was met with moderation, pessimism and a high degree of uncertainty. It seems, however, that there was more of a pessimistic attitude than optimistic. Thus, 27% believe it "is likely to worsen" the situation in the Republic and 23% feel it "is likely to improve" it; 17% assume it "will worsen" the situation and only 14% that it "will improve". And 19% refused to answer the question.

Adygean and Russian attitudes towards the situation in the Republic: some similarities appear, but differences predominate

A question about the most acute problems of Adygea did not reveal any essential differences between the Adygeans and Russians living in Maykop. Hence, 96% of Adygeans and 92% of Russians feel that social and economic problems to be the most pressing. The issue of security was named as one of the most acute problems by 24% of Adygeans and 29% of Russians. At the same time, Russians demonstrated a noticeably larger preoccupation about relations amongst various nationalities: 21% of Russians and only 12% of Adygeans.

However, the most essential differences between Russians and Adygeans appeared in their opinions about unification of the Adygea and Krasnodar Regions. In contrast to Russians, Adygeans were more pessimistic about the results of the planned unification. While 40% of Russians expected improvements, only 4% of Adygeans were optimistic about it. Yet 64% of Adygeans stated that unification "will worsen the situation", whereas only 20% of Russians were of the same opinion.

Regarding the referendum for the unification, 28% of Russians and 4% of Adygeans would vote "in favor"; 28% of Russians and none of the Adygeans "are likely to vote in favor", and 76% of Adygeans and 27% of Russians would vote "against". 16% of Adygeans and 11% of Russians "are likely to vote against". While the percentage of unification supporters among the Russian population is 56%, it stands only at 4% among Adygeans. An overwhelming majority of Adygeans (92%) are against unification, while the percentage of Russians (56%) considerably exceeds the number of its opponents (38%).

The number of those who assume that cancelling elections of the regional governors and being appointed by the Kremlin will have positive results is also noticeably higher among Russians: 17% believe this "will improve" while 29% think it "is likely to improve" the situation in the Republic. Only 4% Adygeans think that this "will improve the situation" and the same number believes it "is likely to improve". Yet 48% of Adygeans think that this "will worsen" and 16% that it "is likely to worsen" the situation, whereas among the Russians percentages are respectively 20% and 17%. It is remarkable that the number of those unable to give a clear answer to this question is noticeably higher among Adygeans (28%) than among Russians (17%).

The survey showed a relative unity amongst the population of Maykop in determining the most acute problems of the Republic. Yet the planned unification of the regions revealed an essential difference between the Adygeans and Russians. An overwhelming majority of Adygeans (92%) think that the unification of Adygea and the Krasnodar region will worsen the situation and intend to vote against it in the event of a referendum. The views of the Russians are more ambiguous. In contrast to Adygeans, the majority of Russians (59%) expect an improvement after unification and are willing to vote in favour of it (56%). At the same time, a substantial part of the Russian population (38%) agrees with the Adygeans in being inclined to say "no" or "probably no" to a referendum.

Note: The poll was conducted in Maykop on April 12-17 and consisted of 300 people (75% Russians and 25% Adygeans; 150 men and 150 women) over the ages of 16. Two answers were allowed for some questions.

Translated by Mindaugas Kojelis.

(MK/E,A,B)