A survey was conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and Razumkov Centre
The vast majority of Ukrainians do not support the use of violence to disperse the EuroMaidan. This according to the results of a survey conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and Razumkov Centre with support of the International Renaissance Foundation and MATRA Program of the Netherlands Embassy in Ukraine.
In the West, 96.4% of the population oppose the use of force (1.3% support), in the Center – 87.2% oppose / 5.6% support, in the South – 53.1% oppose / 30.5% support, and in the East – 63.1% oppose / 26.6% support.
The EuroMaidan protests have the support of 50% of the population, while 42% are opposed to them. Support levels differ by region, with the strongest in the Western (80% support, 7% oppose) and Central (63% support, 28% oppose) regions and opposition mainly in the South (20% support, 71% oppose) and the East (30% support, 65% oppose). Participants of EuroMaidan protests were mainly residents of the Western (26%) and Central (15%, Kyiv 39%) regions with fewer from the South (5.5%) and East (3%).
Most Ukrainians are against the AntiMaidan actions (57% vs. 27%). The strongest opposition is in the West (89% vs. 3%) and in the Center (75% vs. 14%). Support comes mainly from the South (54% support, 22% oppose) and the East (43% support, 38% oppose). Among those surveyed, 0.6% in the West participated in AntiMaidan actions and approximately 3% in the Center, South and East.
Residents of the different regions agree that negotiations are needed between the government and opposition: 73% in the West, 64% in the Center, 80% in the South and 78% in the East.
Society continues to support democracy as the most desirable type of government for Ukraine (51%). 20.5% of the population supports authoritarianism, and 12% has no opinion. However, support for democracy differs across the regions with the strongest support in the West (77%), similar levels in the South (56%) and Center (52%) and lowest in the East (36%).
45% of the population is ready to tolerate material difficulties in exchange for personal freedom and civil rights guarantees, while 25% are willing to give up some of their rights and civil liberties in exchange for personal wealth. People in the West are most unwilling to give up their rights in exchange for material gain (55%) while those in the East are (40%).
The poll was conducted on December 20-24, 2013. 2010 respondents aged 18+ were surveyed in all regions of Ukraine. The margin of error is 2.3%.
Contacts:
Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation
(+380 44) 581 33 17
dif@dif.org.ua
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Main objective of the International Renaissance Foundation is to provide financial and operational assistance to the development of an open and democratic society in Ukraine by supporting key civic initiatives in this area.
