MOSCOW. March 1 (Interfax) - Russian citizens look at the situation in Chechnya from a more optimistic angle than they previously did, the Public Opinion Foundation pollster said in a report. Thirty-seven per cent of those polled in February said that the situation in Chechnya has improved, compared with 35% in June 2006 and 17% in October 2005. Five percent of those surveyed think that the situation has been deteriorating (against 6% in June 2006 and 13% in October 205,) and one third of those polled said that nothing has changed (compared with 42% in June 2006 and 53% in October 2005.)

"A generally positive opinion of the current change in Chechnya probably explains why a large share of respondents expressed a positive opinion of Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechnya's acting president," the report says. Eighteen percent of respondents have a positive opinion of Kadyrov and 8% negative. Most of those surveyed are either indifferent to Kadyrov (27%,) or know nothing about him (39%.) President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that he would propose Kadyrov for president of Chechnya.

More than one quarter (28%) of those polled said that if Kadyrov is confirmed as president, the situation in Chechnya will be become quieter, but 3% expressed a the opposite opinion and around one fifth of those surveyed (22%) think that the situation will not change. Forty-six percent of respondents were undecided. The poll was held on February 24-25 in 100 localities in 44 regions, and involved 1,500 respondents.