March 28, 2003

Abstract: (CPOD) Mar. 28, 2003 - Negative feelings toward the United States appear to be on the rise in Russia, according to the latest poll by All-Russia Public Opinion Research. 55 per cent of respondents have a negative opinion of the U.S., and only 5 per cent sympathize with the Americans in the current conflict in Iraq.

(CPOD) Mar. 28, 2003 - Negative feelings toward the United States appear to be on the rise in Russia, according to the latest poll by All-Russia Public Opinion Research. 55 per cent of respondents have a negative opinion of the U.S., and only 5 per cent sympathize with the Americans in the current conflict in Iraq.

According to the research institute, the previous peak in anti-U.S. feelings in Russia occurred in 1999. During the air strikes over the former Yugoslavia, 53 per cent of respondents had a negative opinion of the U.S.

The most recent results differ greatly from the opinion of Russians in the summer of 2002, when president Vladimir Putin forged closer ties with the U.S. in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Back then, only 15 per cent of respondents had a negative view of the U.S.

Polling Data

Do you have a negative or a positive opinion of the United States?

Negative	55%
Positive	38%

Who do you sympathize with in the current Persian Gulf conflict?

Neither side	46%
Iraq	45%
United States	5%

Source: All-Russia Public Opinion Research Center.
Methodology: Interviews to 1,600 Russian adults, conducted in late March 2003. Margin of error is 3.4 per cent.