Only 1% of Ukrainians support MPs from pro-Russian parties completing their terms of office – poll

Compared to 2022, the share of Ukrainian citizens willing to let pro-Russian politicians continue working until the next elections has decreased from 3% to 1%. 

Rubryka reports the findings, citing the results of a sociological survey conducted from December 8 to 15, 2023, by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation in collaboration with the sociological service of the Razumkov Center and commissioned by the Movement Chesno.

According to sociologists, the majority of Ukrainians have a fairly negative attitude toward pro-Russian politicians, and some are inclined to:

• prematurely deprive them of parliamentary powers – 7% of citizens,
• add them to the list and ban them from running again – another 10.5% of Ukrainians.

14% of Ukrainians advocate for lustration and banning positions for representatives of banned parties. Meanwhile, investigating the activities of each individual and checking for facts of state betrayal are considered successful options by 23% of citizens.

Almost 38% of citizens suggest not limiting themselves to one or two types of sanctions for the activities conducted on the territory of Ukraine by representatives of pro-Russian parties but applying all the above-mentioned methods to hold such MPs accountable.

In addition, the share of Ukrainians advocating for the investigation of the activities of each politician individually and checking for state betrayal has increased from 17% to almost 23%.

According to survey results, most Ukrainians desire swift punishment for corrupt officials.

Party Ban

In March 2022, the National Security and Defense Council decided to suspend any activities of parties with ties to Russia in Ukraine during the state of war.

On May 3, the Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, adopted a bill prohibiting pro-Russian parties in Ukraine.

At the end of May, it became known that the Ministry of Justice filed a lawsuit in court to ban pro-Russian parties. The Ministry of Justice filed 17 lawsuits for party bans.

Currently, the following parties with ties to Russia are banned in Ukraine:

• Opposition Bloc,
• Socialists,
• Nashi,
• Derzhava,
• Block of Volodymyr Saldo,
• Party of Justice and Development,
• Socialist Party of Ukraine,
• Left Opposition,
• Party of Sharii,
• Opposition Platform – For Life,
• Happy Ukraine,
• Rus Yedyna,
• Union of Left Forces,
• Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine.

On May 14, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law banning pro-Russian parties.