MOSCOW. Oct 30 (Interfax-AVN) - An impressive 85% of Russians approve President Vladimir Putin's handling of the hostage crisis, suggests a poll carried out by the All-Russian Public Opinion Center.
The poll taken on October 25-28 involved 1,600 Russians.
When asked the question, "How do you evaluate the way the Russian president handled the situation," 85% chose answers in the very positive/rather positive range, while 10% answered in the rather negative/very negative range, and 5% were undecided.
As far as actions by Russia's special services (the Federal Security Service and Interior Ministry) are concerned, 82% assessed them as very positive/more positive, 13% as more negative/sharply negative, and 5% were undecided.
Regarding journalists' actions, 76% assessed them as very positive/on the whole positive, 18% as on the whole negative/sharply negative, and 6% were undecided.
Asked how the situation should have been resolved, 59% said "first enter negotiations and then carry out a forcible operation," 25% - "carry out a forcible operation right away without entering any negotiations", 9% - "only by means of negotiations," and 7% were undecided.
Respondents were also asked, "Should the federal authorities in response to the incident have unleashed resolute actions against the Chechen militants similar to those America has carried out after September 11 (massive raids on Chechen rebel bases, etc)."
54% of the polled answered definitely yes/on the whole yes, 36% - definitely no/on the whole no, and 10% were undecided.
While 46% think that military operations in Chechnya must continue, a nearly equal number, 44%, call for the start of peace talks, and 10% had no opinion on the subject.
Nearly one half of Russians, 49%, believe that federal units in Chechnya are not tough enough; 30% feel their actions are as tough as necessary, while 9% believe they are "unduly tough," and 12% are undecided.
One third, 33%, believe that the Chechen problem could be resolved by combining the use of force and negotiations; 27% insist that force alone can solve the problem; and 17% feel that talks alone can end the conflict.
Some 18% think the Chechen problem cannot be resolved, so Russia must seal it off, enabling it to leave Russia. Another 5% had nothing to suggest on the matter.
The hostage-taking raid in Moscow will make the situation in Chechnya worse, 37% believe, while 16% hope that the two sides will enter talks, and 35% are confident that nothing will change. As many as 12% could not make any forecast.