The citizens of Russia began to show less concern with regard to the sanctions of the West. As reported on Friday, March 17, RIA Novosti, evidenced by the survey data of the all-Russia centre of studying of public opinion (VTSIOM).
According to him, this figure has decreased since the beginning of 2015. Then, 52 percent of respondents said that the restrictive measures aggravated the situation in the country, and in March of 2017 so believed, only 27 percent of respondents.
Simultaneously, the Russians were significantly more likely to talk about the positive effect of Western sanctions. It celebrates 35 percent, and two years ago the figure was 17 percent. 32 percent are confident the sanctions policy was not seriously impact on the life of Russian society, while in 2015 it is believed by 22 percent of survey participants.
A similar trend is noted in the assessment of the effects of restrictions on each of the respondents personally. If in 2015 the specific implications for themselves and their families was noted by 45 percent of respondents, now this figure dropped to 17 percent. The majority of respondents (66%) complain about the rising prices and the deterioration of the financial position, 13 percent complain that because of the sanctions, many goods disappeared from the shelves, and another 9 percent mentioned the decline or delay of salaries and problems with obtaining visas.
On March 16 acting as the official representative of us state Department mark Toner said that Washington intends to maintain the restrictive measures against Moscow imposed over the annexation of Crimea into the Russian Federation. “Our sanctions related to the Crimea will remain in force as long as Russia does not return control of Ukraine”, — he said.
The West began to impose anti-Russian sanctions after the annexation in the spring of 2014 in Crimea and Sevastopol to Russia. During this time black lists were tens of citizens and organizations. Kiev refuses to recognize the results of the plebiscite, Moscow insists that the procedure was conducted in accordance with international law, and declares that the question of supplies of Crimea is closed.