The survey, conducted by the independent Levada Center on Nov. 21-24, saw 62 percent of respondents say that order in the government takes priority over the protection of human rights in Russia right now, amid the ongoing economic crisis and deteriorating relations with the West over the Ukraine crisis.
Twenty-nine percent saw human rights as more important than order, and another 9 percent expressed difficulty in answering the question.
The results of the poll came as many began to fear an uphill battle for the country’s economy, with Russian currency having significantly deteriorated in recent weeks after the West hurled wave after wave of sanctions against Russia over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Human rights also played a central role in the poll, though freedom of speech and freedom of religion ranked fairly low on the list.
Sixty-five percent of respondents cited the right to life as the most important right, followed by the right to free education, medical aid and pensions with 64 percent, and the right to privacy and a home with 50 percent.
The right to a well-paying job in one’s specialty came next, with 43 percent โ followed by the right to own property, with 39 percent.
The right to free speech was cited as the most important by only 30 percent of respondents, and freedom of religion by only 22 percent. Twenty percent cited the right to information as the most important, and 19 percent cited the right to elect representatives in government.
Roman (was) in Ukraine
