Sixty percent of Moscow residents believe economic conditions in Russia have worsened recently, the RIA Novosti news agency reported Wednesday, citing the results of the reset poll.
At the same time, 12 percent of Muscovites believe the economic situation in Russia has been improving, according to a poll carried out by the Obshchestvennoye Mnenie (Public Opinion) foundation, RIA Novosti reported.
The poll revealed that more than half of Moscow residents see negative change in the Russian economic situation, with only 41 of Russians sharing this view.
The poll was conducted on Dec. 27, 2015 among 1,500 respondents in 53 Russian regions. The margin of error did not exceed 3.6 percent.
The Russian economy has been reeling from falling global oil prices, the country's main export, and Western sanctions imposed on Russia over its actions in eastern Ukraine.
As a result of the double-digit inflation, Russians' real incomes fell sharply over the past year.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.