Russian-Georgian attitudes unchanged despite conflict - survey
MOSCOW, December 17 (RIA Novosti) - An opinion poll has found that Russians and Georgians have not changed their attitudes to each other despite the August war, but that opinions on their respective leaders have worsened.
A survey conducted in the two countries by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) said 69% of Russians and 71% of Georgians do not hold worse views of each other after the conflict, which followed Georgia's August 8 attack on breakaway South Ossetia.
However, 50% of Russian respondents and 64% of Georgians said their attitudes to each others' governments have deteriorated. A total of 39% of Russians and 48% of Georgians said they hoped bilateral relations would improve.
Georgia severed diplomatic ties with Russia following Moscow's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia after the five-day war.
The opinion poll found that Russians and Georgians disagree on how to improve relations.
While Russians believe the best option for Georgia is to unite with Russia (42% of respondents) or remain independent but maintain neutrality in foreign policy (30%), most Georgians (52%) said they supported the country's efforts to join NATO.
Only 11% of Georgians said they favored their country forming a close relationship with Russia.
The poll was conducted in December in both Russia and Georgia, and involved 1,600 and 1,000 people, respectively.
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