Total of 93% of Crimean residents positively assess experience of reunification with Russia - poll

MOSCOW. Aug 19 (Interfax) - Residents of the Russian internal republic of Crimea do not doubt the correctness of the decision of the Crimean Peninsula rejoining Russia seven years on.

According to a poll conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) dedicated to Russia's Crimea through the eyes of local residents, Crimea's reunification with Russia is positively assessed by 93% of Crimean residents, while 4% are negative about this event.

Assessing the state of Crimea over the years of being a part of Ukraine and the Russian Federation, the majority of residents of the peninsula (89%) are convinced that Crimea is developing more successfully now, as it has become part of the Russian Federation, 4% believe that Crimea is not developing either then or now, and 2% believe that it developed more successfully as part of Ukraine.

The majority of respondents (70%) noted that Crimea's reintegration into Russia had a positive effect on their lives and the lives of their families, 16% answered that this event did not affect their lives, and 9% believe that it had a negative impact.

Three quarters of its residents are satisfied with the state of affairs in the Republic of Crimea, 21% are dissatisfied with it.

The Crimeans highlight positive changes in the situation in the republic over the past seven years. Thus, 85% of the respondents said that during this period the situation in the republic has improved, while 5% noted that the situation has deteriorated there.

Most of all, the Crimeans value the opportunity to live in conditions of personal safety (85%) and in favorable environmental conditions (76%). More than half of the respondents note that they have enough opportunities to stay healthy (59%), for interesting leisure (55%) and good education (54%).

At the same time, if the Crimeans were asked the questions of the referendum on reunification with Russia now, the overwhelming majority of the residents of the peninsula (88%) would again support Crimea's reunion with the Russian Federation, 7% found it difficult to answer, and 5% would support the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea within Ukraine.