Monday, March 11 2024 18:35

ArmInfo.A new nationwide poll conducted in Armenia by the International Republican Institute's (IRI) Center for Insights in Survey Research(CISR) found an increasingly negative view of Russia and strong support for the government response to refugees from Nagorno- Karabakh.

According to the source, the IRI survey found that 66% of the public  views relations with Russia as negative, compared to 49% who felt the  same way in March 2023. "More people in Armenia see Russia and the  Putin regime as a threat to the security and political stability of  their country," said Stephen Nix, Senior Director for Eurasia at IRI.

The poll also showed that 73% of Armenians support the way the  government has been handling the refugee crisis. "Renewed hostilities  in Nagorno- Karabakh created new challenges for Armenia with an  influx of refugees in the last few years," said Nix. "Our data shows  that the people are pleased with the way the government is handling  this situation and increasingly believe the country is headed in the  right direction." 

In addition, more people in Armenia feel optimistic about the  country's direction according to IRI's latest poll. When asked, 50%  of adults said Armenia was moving in the right direction.  

The survey was conducted on behalf of the International Republican  Institute's Center for Insights in Survey Research by Breavis. Data  was collected via telephone (CATI) administered interviews throughout  Armenia between December 13 and December 22, 2023.  The sample  consisted of 1,508 permanent residents of Armenia 18 and older. The  achieved sample was weighted for age, gender, and community type  according to the 2023 Yearbook of the Statistical Committee of  Armenia, as well as to the average of IRI CATI polls in Armenia for  education. The margin of error does not exceed plus or minus 2.5  percentage points for the full sample. The response rate was  28%.respondents expressed the belief that it is in the right  direction, another 39% said it is in the wrong direction, and another  12% found it difficult to answer.

The study was funded by the United States Agency for International  Development (USAID).