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Russians Doubt That Authorities Can Protect Them From Terrorists, Poll Shows

MOSCOW — After last year's explosions in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, the majority of Russians doubt that the authorities can protect them from new terrorist attacks, an independent poll has shown.

Only 29 percent of Russians are convinced that the authorities can protect them from terrorist threats, while 63 percent disagree. Eight percent had no answer, said a poll by the Levada Center released Tuesday.

Two suicide bombings in Volgograd killed 32 people and injured dozens more days before the New Year.

A total of 44 percent said it was impossible to avert the attacks, while 45 percent said the blasts were preventable. The rest had no answer.

The vast majority of Russians — 78 percent — were convinced that killing terrorists was the only way to solve the problem. Only 15 percent said it could be resolved through negotiations.

The survey was conducted from Jan.11-12 and involved 1,600 respondents from 130 cities and towns in 42 Russian regions. The margin of error did not exceed 3.4 percent.

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