Most Russians treat Kadyrov's words about opposition as unacceptable

The critical statements of the head of Chechnya about the non-systemic opposition as traitors caused negative reaction in 59% of the Russians polled by the "Levada Centre". The number of Russian citizens, in whom Kadyrov evokes positive emotions, has declined over the last year from 35% to 17%, says the report of the Centre.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that recently Kadyrov attracted attention by his attacks on the non-systemic opposition. On January 12, he said that these oppositionists should be treated "as nation's enemies." Rights defenders have treated his words as reckless and dangerous.

The poll of the "Levada Centre" covered 1600 people aged over 18, living in 137 dwelling settlements of 48 regions of the country. The number of those, in whom Kadyrov causes negative emotions, increased from 5% to 10%.

Lev Gudkov, Director of the "Levada Centre", has noted that the respondents, neutrally related to Kadyrov, are "largely the ones, who understand that Kadyrov enjoys Putin's patronage."

Speaking about Russians' attitude to Kadyrov's threats addressed to the non-systemic opposition, he said that in relation to the opposition "in general, an extremely unsympathetic image of 'foreign agents' was formed."

Natalia Zorkaya, the head of the division of socio-political studies of the "Levada Centre", said that the people, who support Kadyrov's words, "are not so much his personal sympathizers, as those, who have adopted the rhetoric of 'nation's traitors' as the basis for themselves."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.