MOSCOW. Aug 12 (Interfax) - More than half of Russians (54%) believe the withdrawal of the limited contingent of Soviet troops from Afghanistan (on February 15, 1989) was the most important event that happened 30 years ago, according to a survey done by Levada Center seen by Interfax.
The survey shows that the percentage of respondents who consider this event to be the most important is the highest in the age groups 40-54 and respondents aged 55 and older - 64%, respectively.
The poll shows that a little less than one-third (31%) of the respondents aged 18-24 believe the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan was the most important event of 1989.
The study results show that 24% of the respondents consider the fall of the Berlin Wall to be the most important event that happened in 1989 (on November 9, 1989).
According to Levada Center, respondents additionally consider the conflict situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, the first meeting between Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and U.S. President George Bush, the first Congress of the People's Deputies of the USSR, and the political changes in the countries of Eastern Europe among the most important events that happened 30 years ago.
The nationwide poll was conducted July 18-24, 2019 and surveyed 1,605 people aged 18 and older living in 137 populated areas of 50 regions of Russia.