• According to the results of the study conducted by the Rating Group in March 2012, a slight weakening of protest moods among citizens is recorded. As before, social issues are capable of provoking protests much more strongly than ideological ones.

READINESS FOR PROTESTS

• 36% of respondents are ready to personally defend their rights and interests by participating in protest actions, including 13% who are definitely ready. For comparison, in April of last year, those ready to personally defend their rights in protest actions were somewhat higher – 40%, including 17% who were definitely ready to do so.
• At the same time, 55% are not ready to participate in protests (in April it was 51%). Another 10% could not answer the question.
• Traditionally, the highest readiness for protests is in the West (54%). Significantly fewer are ready for protests in the North (36%), South (33%), and Center (32%) of Ukraine. Even fewer – in the Donbas (28%) and in the East (24%).
• Compared to April of last year, the level of protest activity increased only in the West and South of the country.
• Among voters, the highest readiness for protests is among supporters of Svoboda (65%), as well as Batkivshchyna (52%), UDAR (49%), and Front for Change (48%). The lowest is among supporters of Civic Position, the Party of Regions, the Communist Party, and among the “undecided.”
• It should be noted that the highest readiness for protests is observed among working citizens, people with medium incomes and secondary education. A slight weakening of protest moods is observed among citizens with higher incomes and higher levels of education.
• As a rule, these are people of a wide age range. Protest moods are most widespread among students, workers, and the unemployed, slightly less among entrepreneurs. These are more often men than women, and more often rural residents.

READINESS FOR PROTESTS BY TOPIC

• It should be emphasized immediately that social issues are capable of mobilizing people for protests much more than political or ideological ones.
• Thus, people are most ready to personally go out to protests in the event of delays in salary or pension payments (44%) and sharp price increases and inflation (43%). At the same time, even on these issues, the number of those ready to protest is smaller than those not ready (48%).
• Somewhat fewer people are ready to go out to protests in the event of increases in utility tariffs (37% ready and 54% not ready), mass persecution of ordinary citizens by law enforcement agencies (31% ready and 56% not ready), falsification of parliamentary election results (30% ready and 62% not ready), transfer of Ukraine’s gas transit system to Russia (26% ready and 64% not ready), and a decision on the free sale of agricultural land in Ukraine (28% ready and 65% not ready).
• Only 20% of respondents are ready to go out to protests in the event of granting the Russian language the status of a second state language, while 72% are not ready. Conversely, only 16% are ready to go out to protests in the event of banning the use of the Russian language in state institutions, while 75% are not ready.
• On most of these topics, residents of the West are significantly more protest-oriented than other regions. This applies both to socio-economic and ideological issues. The greatest difference compared to other regions is observed in the topics of possible election falsifications, transfer of the gas transit system to Russia, and the issue of the Russian language. At the same time, residents of the South are much more ready to defend the rights of the Russian language in protest actions (even more than in the East and Donbas).
• The second region in terms of protest moods is the North.
• There are also other regional specifics. For example, the topic of possible persecution of ordinary people by law enforcement agencies can mobilize residents of the Center more; the free sale of agricultural land – the South; increases in utility tariffs – the East.
• As already noted, supporters of Svoboda are much more ready for protests than others. This applies both to socio-economic and ideological issues. The greatest protests among Svoboda supporters can be expected in the case of delays in salary and pension payments, as well as transfer of the gas transit system to Russia or oppression of the Ukrainian language. In general, Svoboda supporters are ready for protests in other cases as well.
• Supporters of Batkivshchyna and UDAR are also relatively easy to mobilize, especially in the case of price increases and inflation, as well as utility tariff increases, election falsifications, and possible persecution of ordinary people by law enforcement agencies. Supporters of Batkivshchyna may also be mobilized by the decision on the free sale of agricultural land.
• Supporters of the Party of Regions are known to be more likely to go out to protests in the case of price increases and utility tariff hikes, and delays in salary and pension payments, than in the case of oppression of the Russian language.