Moscow, 18 December: Russian citizens prefer democracy, according to an opinion poll.

Sixty-seven per cent of respondents believe that Russia should develop in a democratic way, while almost half, 47 per cent, think that the country needs a completely distinct kind of democracy that would correspond to Russia's national traditions and specific qualities. These findings were among the results of a poll conducted by the Yuriy Levada Analytical Centre in December (2007), Interfax learnt from the centre today.

According to the poll results, 17 per cent of the respondents were against a democratic form of government in Russia while another 17 per cent were undecided whether or not Russia needs democracy.

Twenty-two per cent of the respondents said Russia should have the same kind of democracy as in the industrialized countries of Europe and America, 10 per cent want the same kind of democracy as in the Soviet Union, and 7 per cent said that Russia does not need a democracy at all.

Responding to questions on human rights, 48 per cent said that citizens have the right to defend their rights even if that contradicts the interests of the state, while eight per cent strongly disagreed with this view. Sixteen per cent said that in special circumstances they would agree to the infringement of their rights for the sake of state interests, while 19 per cent believe that human rights should be placed above the interests of the state.

An overwhelming majority of the respondents (86 per cent) said that people should have the right to public protest, while seven per cent disagreed.

The respondents differed on whether the existing opposition movements in Russia are mainly foreign-funded and acting on Western political consultant's instructions: 40 per cent believe this is the case, 30 per cent disagree, and another 30 per cent do not know.

The respondents also differed on whether Russia is facing threats from many external and internal enemies. Forty-two per cent believe this is the case, 30 per cent think that discussions about enemies are being used to scare the public and make people more submissive, and 28 per cent are undecided.