Poll indicates anti-American sentiment in Russia

World Today

Poll indicates anti-American sentiment in Russia

In Russia, a public opinion poll indicates that anti-American sentiment has reached its highest point since the Soviet Union era. CCTV’s Tom Barton reports more.

The poll’s findings come after Russia’s absorption of Crimea, international sanctions and the ongoing crisis in eastern Ukraine. Around Moscow, Red Square events have been held to mark Russia day, the anniversary of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic on June the 12th 1990. For some, this is a day to express national pride in Russia.

A public opinion survey has found that attitudes in Russia are hardening once more towards the old cold war adversary, the United States. The poll, conducted by Russia’s Levada centre, found forty percent of respondents had a generally negative opinion, of the United States while thirty one percent had a very negative opinion.

Anti-American sentiment in Russia was also up ten percent on a previous poll conducted in March this year, after Russia’s absorption of Crimea. That shows, say the researchers, that this increase is intimately connected to the crisis in Ukraine and the West’s perceived interference. A similar poll in 1991 found four percent having a generally negative opinion of the United States and two percent as having a very negative opinion.

Poll indicates anti-American sentiment in Russia

In Russia, a public opinion poll indicates that anti-American sentiment has reached its highest point since the Soviet Union era. CCTV’s Tom Barton reports more.