Two-thirds of Russians — 66 percent — consider themselves free, and only 26 percent disagree, a poll by the independent Levada Center pollster revealed Tuesday.
Twenty-two percent of those polled believe that a dictatorship will be established in the country in the near future. Forty-two percent said it wasn't likely, while 26 percent said it wasn't possible.
Thirty-six percent of respondents said further crackdown on the opposition is unlikely in the near future, the poll showed. Thirty-three percent considered it probable.
Almost half of Russians — 41 percent — approve of Russian authorities persecuting “foreign agents,” while 25 percent believe it is the government's way of protecting itself from society's criticism.
The poll was conducted on Nov. 20-23 in 48 Russian regions, with the margin of error not exceeding 3.4 percent.
