Page 34 - RusRPTApr21

in the elections, another 13% say that they will most likely take part in them. 12% of voters are not going to participate in the elections. Another 31% of those polled said they would decide closer to the elections. Awareness about the elections to the State Duma is still low: 38% are well aware that the elections are to be held in September this year, 36% have heard something about them, and 26% of those surveyed heard about the elections for the first time. 76% of respondents said that they do not consult with anyone about whom they should vote for in the elections. Only 22% of respondents answered that they usually consult with friends or relatives.
The number of atheists in Russia has doubled from 7% to 14% in just four years, with less than half of those under the age of 25 declaring themselves to be Orthodox Christian, compared to 66% for the population as a whole, according to poll from VTsIOM. Islam has held steady, remaining at around 6% of the entire population. Unlike Christianity, the popularity of the Muslim faith is far more prevalent in the young than the old, with under 25s having double (12%) the proportion of believers compared the country as a whole. According to the study, in 2017, 7% of Russians called themselves atheists. This has now risen to 14%. This has come at the expense of Orthodox Christianity, with the 2017 figure of 75% dropping to 66%. Islam has held steady at 6%. Other recorded religions included Buddhism (1%) and Protestantism (1%), with Catholicism receiving 0%. Interestingly, the age ranges most likely to consider themselves atheists are 18-24, 25-35, and 60+. The figure for the oldest group may reflect a generation growing up before the fall of the Soviet Union, where state atheism was an official policy.
The number of Russians prepared to vote for the pro-Kremlin United Russia falls to a seven-year low. The number of Russians prepared to vote for the pro-Kremlin United Russia has dropped to 42%, its the lowest level since 2013, ahead of the general election slated for September 19, according to independent pollster the Levada Center.
United Russia has seen its popularity in the polls fall steadily in recent years as real incomes have been stagnating for the last six years and the people are simply tired of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been in office for over 20 years.
However, this poll result represents a considerable drop in support from December 2017, when the figure was 58%.
Although United Russia has seen its popularity fall it remains well ahead of the other “systemic opposition” parties that have seats in the Duma.
The next most popular party is the ultra-nationalist LDPR (19%) and the Communists (15%). Both these parties have benefited from jailed anti-corruption activist and opposition politician Alexei Navalny’s smart voting tactics where voters are encouraged to vote for any candidate
34 RUSSIA Country Report April 2021 www.intellinews.com