Russia’s survey names Kazakhstan Most Reliable Partner in CIS

    A survey conducted in Russia has named Kazakhstan as the most reliable partner in the CIS.
    The survey was conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center – VTSIOM, on October 23-24 and ended with Kazakhstan’s President, Nursultan Nazarbayev as the winner as per a confidence rating among other CIS leaders (32%).
    The survey covered 46 Russia’s regions , and placed the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych second (17%), though with a much higher rating than his predecessor -- Viktor Yuschenko (3%). Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, on the contrary, had his confidence rating drop from 33% last year, to 16% this year.
    President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev (5%) followed the top three, outrunning Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan (4%). Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz president Roza Otunbayeva and Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov each won 2% approval.
    Moldova’s Mihai Ghimpu, Tajik president Emomali Rakhmon and Georgia’s president Mikheil Saakashvili appeared to be the least trustworthy in the opinion of Russians, winning just 1% trust.
    The survey showed Kazakhstan as the most reliable partner for Russia among CIS countries, with its rating rising from 31% in 2009, to 37% in 2010. Last year’s leader, Belarus was mentioned much less frequently (23% vs. 43% in 2009), while Ukraine triumphantly climbed to the top three from 4% a year ago to 21% this year, according to the Kyiv Post and Kazakhstan Today.