The Majority of Russians Believe Snowden Is a Hero

Edward Snowden’s act of making information regarding the complete surveillance by American intelligence services of Internet users public is viewed by Russians as the desire to open the world’s eyes to the truth. This view is held by 52 percent of Russians surveyed, and about a quarter of these — 26 percent — were inclined to believe that Snowden aimed to discredit the activities of the intelligence services. This was made evident by the results of a study published today by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center.

According to WCIOM’s study, 67 percent of the Russian population has heard of Edward Snowden. Of those, 23 percent are well-informed about the man, and 44 percent have just heard something. Snowden is most well-known in Moscow and Saint Petersburg with 78 percent. Thirty-two percent of respondents heard about the former employee of the U.S. National Security Agency for the first time in the course of the survey — these were mostly residents of other large cities (40 percent).

On the question of the advisability of providing Snowden political asylum, Russian opinion is divided: 41 percent support taking that step, while 38 percent do not. Forty-nine percent of those who support granting political asylum are from Moscow and St. Petersburg, and many of these respondents were highly educated (44 percent). They are opposed by residents of other large cities (50 percent) and by Russians with low levels of education (49 percent).

WCIOM conducted these unparalleled pan-Russian polls from July 6 through 7. One thousand six hundred respondents were interviewed at 130 sampling points in 42 regions and republics. Statistical error was no greater than 3.4 percent.