HALF OF RUSSIAN POPULATION SEES OTHER COUNTRIES AS THREATS

The other half either died of alcohol poisoning or were bought as wives during the survey...

The weekly "Rossiya" published a recent poll on Russian citizens' views of the military. The survey, conducted by the Levada Center, showed that almost half of respondents believe that other states pose a threat to Russia, while 43 percent see no such threat from any other state. Sixty-five percent of respondents think that the military are capable of defending Russia in the event of an armed external threat, but 27 percent disagree and 8 percent are uncertain. Fifty-four percent of respondents support the state's move to abolish most exemptions from conscription and reduce conscription terms to one year, while 37 percent are against. Fifty-four percent of respondents want to replace the draft with contract service, which is a drop of 8 percent from the previous year, while 41 percent do not. PM