Almost half of Russians say country lacks democracy

Twenty years after the Soviet collapse and Russis's transition to a market economy, almost half of Russians still believe that their country is not a democratic society, according to an opinion poll.

Twenty years after the Soviet collapse and Russis's transition to a market economy, almost half of Russians still believe that their country is not a democratic society, according to an opinion poll.

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The poll conducted by the "Levada Centre" pollster in 44 regions indicates that 47 per cent Russians believe that Russia is not a democratic country while 19 per cent were undecided.

However, 39 per cent feel growing chaos and anarchy, restoration of an authoritarian rule, dictatorship and former Soviet order. Only 39 per cent Russians believe that the former Communist nation is developing on the democratic path, Interfax reported.

Most of the polled Russians (45 per cent) link the concept of a 'democratic society' with civil and political freedoms like free speech, religious freedom and free migration.

The poll showed that 58 per cent Russians link answerability of the authorities before the electorate and equality of all are the norms of a democratic society along with public's capability to influence on the government in setting the course of economic development, independence of legislature and judiciary, democratic elections on the basis of political competition.

On the backdrop of growing discontent at the state of the society 64 per cent Russians do not take any interest in politics.

According to the sociologists of Levada Centre, Moscow had the highest number of people who do not take interest in politics.