Number of Russians favoring Azerbaijan on the rise - poll
Ten percent of Russians consider Azerbaijan a
country with a friendly attitude toward their northern neighbor, a
recent public opinion poll has found.
The South Caucasus republic is at the top of the list of those countries mentioned, ranking eighth, according to the study conducted by Russia`s Levada Analytical Center.
Belarus is considered the friendliest nation, enjoying support of half of the respondents, followed by Kazakhstan, with 38%, China with 18%, Germany with 17%, Armenia with 15%, India with 12%, and Cuba with 11%.
Compared with Levada`s poll issued four years ago, the number of those calling Azerbaijan a friendly state has doubled. As for those who claim Azerbaijan is hostile to Russia, their number has decreased and is now just 2%.
Arastun Orujlu, the head of Azerbaijan`s East-West Research Center, says the shift in Russian public opinion is due to Baku pursuing a Russian-leaning policy during the past years.
"Bilateral cultural and political relations have developed. Visits by Azerbaijani officials, headed by the president [to Russia], have taken a significant place in the overall foreign visits," the analyst said.
Georgia was described by those polled as the country most hostile to Russia, according to 62% of those polled. The former Soviet republic is followed by the United States, with 45% of respondents seeing it as an enemy. Further, 41% of respondents said Ukraine was hostile while 35% opposed Latvia and Lithuania each, while the other Baltic state - Estonia - being seen as an enemy by 30%, and Poland by 10% of those polled.
Georgia was considered to be a foe as early as during a 2006 Levada poll, but the disapproval rating was then almost 20% lower, as 44% of respondents voiced that view. Latvia was then labeled as the most hostile nation, with 46% of respondents claiming this. This figure has now fallen to 35%.
Of note, democracies or the former Soviet republics aspiring to democracy are usually labeled as arch-foes in the survey.
The poll was carried out among 1,600 people in about 50 regions of Russia.
Levada is a Russian non-governmental organization engaged in studying public opinion and market research.
The South Caucasus republic is at the top of the list of those countries mentioned, ranking eighth, according to the study conducted by Russia`s Levada Analytical Center.
Belarus is considered the friendliest nation, enjoying support of half of the respondents, followed by Kazakhstan, with 38%, China with 18%, Germany with 17%, Armenia with 15%, India with 12%, and Cuba with 11%.
Compared with Levada`s poll issued four years ago, the number of those calling Azerbaijan a friendly state has doubled. As for those who claim Azerbaijan is hostile to Russia, their number has decreased and is now just 2%.
Arastun Orujlu, the head of Azerbaijan`s East-West Research Center, says the shift in Russian public opinion is due to Baku pursuing a Russian-leaning policy during the past years.
"Bilateral cultural and political relations have developed. Visits by Azerbaijani officials, headed by the president [to Russia], have taken a significant place in the overall foreign visits," the analyst said.
Georgia was described by those polled as the country most hostile to Russia, according to 62% of those polled. The former Soviet republic is followed by the United States, with 45% of respondents seeing it as an enemy. Further, 41% of respondents said Ukraine was hostile while 35% opposed Latvia and Lithuania each, while the other Baltic state - Estonia - being seen as an enemy by 30%, and Poland by 10% of those polled.
Georgia was considered to be a foe as early as during a 2006 Levada poll, but the disapproval rating was then almost 20% lower, as 44% of respondents voiced that view. Latvia was then labeled as the most hostile nation, with 46% of respondents claiming this. This figure has now fallen to 35%.
Of note, democracies or the former Soviet republics aspiring to democracy are usually labeled as arch-foes in the survey.
The poll was carried out among 1,600 people in about 50 regions of Russia.
Levada is a Russian non-governmental organization engaged in studying public opinion and market research.
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