The conflict over wage arrears in the Leningrad region town threw the government into action to head off further protests. The situation was covered widely in newspapers, but it was shown only once on state television, where most Russians get their news.
According to the survey of 1,600 people in 42 regions, just 41 percent of Russians said they had heard of the incident. Sixteen percent said they were well aware of what happened in Pikalyovo, while 25 percent of respondents "had heard something."
Three-quarters of respondents said residents in Pikalyovo were justified in blocking the federal highway.
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