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Do Belarusians Want to Unite with Russia or EU? WTF Fact-Checks ‘Shocking Figures’ from ‘ZhS Premium' Poll
In Belarus, there is a shift away from supporting integration with Russia, while the EU traction is the same.
The Chatham House research center surveyed Belarusians online about whether Belarus should move closer to Russia or the European Union. The Belarus pro-government Telegram channel ‘ZhS Premium’ partially reported the results, claiming that those surveyed were rapidly losing interest in the EU joining, and the majority wanted to be with Russia. The Weekly Top Fake team has debunked their words.
The idea of Belarus' future integration into the EU, was more popular among Belarusians in 2022–2023, than now, the post in the Telegram channel 'ZhS Premium' reads.
Here is what the pro-government media source said on September 3, 2024, referring to the Chatham House research center's online survey:
“The data turned out to be simply shocking for the fugitives. <...> It's a catastrophe, and it's rapidly increasing. After all, only last year, the 'independent sociologists' drew 16% for the EU, and in 2022 — 18%. That's why the [independent media sources — ed.] don't provide data in comparison with previous years.”
The paper of the Chatham House public opinion poll, conducted on 8–14 November 2023, also provides earlier indicators. Thus, in 2020, 9% of those surveyed supported integration with the EU, last year — 13%. So, there is no significant change in a year: according to the latest survey, it’s still 13%.
Over the past three years, the idea of closer ties with the EU has attracted a maximum of 18% of supporters. It reached its peak of popularity at the beginning of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022
In 2020, 27% of those surveyed supported the union with Russia, and since then their number has been increasing till falling in 2024. The survey shows a decrease in support for joining Russia, with a 7% drop from 41% to 34% from 2023 to 2024.
In Belarus, there is a shift away from supporting integration with Russia, while the EU traction is the same.
