Support The Moscow Times!

Record Number of Russians Empty-Handed at New Year - Poll

Twenty-three percent of Russians received no gifts for New Year — the highest percentage for six years, according to a poll conducted by state-run pollster VTsIOM.

For those who did receive gifts, the most popular items were sweets, alcohol and delicacies — these items were received by 24 percent of respondents, according to the findings published Friday.

Twenty-two percent of Russians received perfumes and jewelry as New Year gifts and 20 percent received pens or notebooks.

The poll also revealed that 25 percent of Russians were unhappy about the way they spent the New Year holidays, the highest figure in a decade.

The majority of respondents — 52 percent — spent the holidays visiting their relatives and friends. Thirty-two percent spent the holidays outdoors and 20 percent were working during the holidays.

The average Russian spent 9,543 rubles ($121) on New Year celebrations, according to the poll.

The poll was conducted among 1,600 respondents on Jan. 16-17 in 46 Russian regions. The margin of error did not exceed 3.5 percent.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

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.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more