Levada Center*: more than half of Russians condemn deceased celebrities and those who fled the mobilization

More than half of Russians – 52% – said they have a negative attitude towards celebrities who left the country after the start of the military operation in Ukraine. About the same number – 51% – condemns the compatriots who left Russia after the announcement of the partial mobilization. Evidenced by the results of the February survey of the Center Levada *.
Indifference towards deceased celebrities and ordinary Russians was reported by 41% and 36% of respondents, respectively.
In general, people who go to live abroad are treated neutrally by respondents – this option was chosen by 60% of survey participants. The share of respondents who treat those who have left with sympathy and understanding has halved since the end of 2018 – from 28% to 14%, Levada* noted.
Proposals by some State Duma deputies to deprive deceased Russians of their property were supported by 49% of respondents, but about the same number – 47% – opposed them.
The desire to move abroad for permanent residency was stated by 11% of survey participants, 88% would not move. The proportion of those who never thought of moving was 85% – the highest figure in 30 years of observation, notes the Levada Center*.
In January, State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin offered to deprive Russians of their property who left the country, but “publicly allow themselves to smear Russia, insult our soldiers”. Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Anna Kuznetsova, for her part, offered to provide housing for orphans at the expense of the property of those who “betrayed their country”. Russian President’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin did not address the issue.
President Vladimir Putin, in a message to the Federal Assembly on February 21, opposed settling scores with those who “have apostatized from the homeland”, since the Russians had already given them a “moral assessment”.
* recognized by the Ministry of Justice as a foreign agent