Opinion poll indicates growing trust of Belarusians in president, government, army, police, church

The analytical center EcooM carried out a sociological research titled as Social Thinking Amid Sanctions on 22 July – 12 August 2022. As many as 1,560 people from all parts of Belarus were polled. EcooM's head Sergei Musiyenko quoted the poll's figures for BelTA.

When asked “How much do you trust the president?”, 76.3% of those polled said they do on the whole. 13.6% responded negatively and 10.1% could not give an answer.

In December 2021 EcooM carried out a large sociological research ahead of the referendum on amending Belarus' Constitution, with over 10,000 people polled. Back then 72.3% of those polled indicated they trusted the president and 14.3% of those polled said they did not. According to Sergei Musiyenko, the change in the nation's attitude to the head of state (4% up) is positive dynamics that has been achieved despite massive hardships. He mentioned having to deal with consequences of the year 2020 events, the anti-COVID policy that ran contrary to the global mainstream but the Belarusian healthcare system managed to produce results. “Then there is half a year of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, in which we don't participate but we are always told we will. Essentially sanctions have been introduced against us in recognition of active neutrality,” Sergei Musiyenko remarked.

There is some potential for the trust in the president and the government to grow. 10.1% of those polled could not give an answer. “It requires further study and concrete work from all of us,” Sergei Musiyenko said.

When asked “How much do you trust the government?”, 69.9% of those polled responded they do on the whole. 19.4% responded negatively and 10.7% had problems formulating an answer.

When asked “How much do you trust the army?”, 72.3% of those polled responded they do on the whole. 12.6% responded negatively and 15.1% had problems formulating an answer.

The opinion poll also demonstrated growing trust in law enforcement agencies. As many as 67.5% of those polled said they trust Belarusian law enforcement agencies (up from 62.5% in December 2021), 19.4% said they do not (up from 17.4%), and 13.1% could not formulate an answer.

Meanwhile, according to the opinion poll, 76.6% of the Belarusians do not trust the opposition on the whole, 9.1% trust the opposition, and 14.3% could not formulate an answer.

The sociological research also probed the attitude of Belarusians towards the church. 57.9% of those polled said they trust the church on the whole while 31.1% said they do not. 11% had problems formulating an answer.

BelTA hired the analytical center EcooM to take the nation's pulse amid Western sanctions. The sociological research took place on 22 July – 12 August 2022. As many as 1,560 people aged 18 and above were polled in population centers located in all the regions of Belarus. The sampling was balanced bearing in mind sex, age, employment, type of the population center and the region of residence of the respondents. The statistical error does not exceed 2.5%.

BelTA – News from Belarus