July poll by Levada Centre uncovers attitudes to conditions of ex-Yukos head’s release and, on fifth anniversary of the Yukos affair, its contribution to respect for the law in Russia

Moscow, 1 August 2008. The majority of people in Russia are not opposed to Khodorkovsky’s release. This is a finding of the latest opinion poll concerning “Popular attitudes to the Yukos affair”, carried out in July by the Yury Levada research centre.

More than a third (35%) of respondents said they were definitely, or on the whole, in favour of Mikhail Khodorkovsky being granted his lawful right to release on parole. Asked whether Khodorkovsky should “admit himself guilty of committing the crimes for which he was convicted” to have any chance of regaining his liberty the answers ranged as follows: “I approve, he would thereby show that he could accept defeat with dignity” (9%); “I’d understand: if someone’s already served 5 years and faces the prospect of another 20 years in prison, it would be understandable” (19%); “I disapprove, it would not be a manly response but the betrayal of all those who have trusted in him” (8%); many others said if Khodorkovsky agreed to this condition it would not influence their attitude to him (34%).

July will mark the fifth anniversary of the “Yukos affair”. Consequently, those polled were asked whether the Yukos affair has been “evidence of the triumph of respect for the law in Russia or testimony to the lawlessness that goes on in our country”. Only 15% would term the Yukos affair an example of the triumph of respect for the law. For 21% it was doubtful how the affair related to respect for the law while 17% did not hesitate to call it testimony to the lawlessness rampant in Russia.

The survey was conducted from 18 to 21 July 2008 by the Yury Levada research centre. A total of 1600 individuals, aged 18 and over, were polled. This and the centre’s other surveys are based on a nationwide representative sample that reflect the major socio-occupational and socio-demographic features of Russia’s adult population.