Lev Gudkov, 75, a 75-year-old sociologist who has long served as director of the independent polling agency Levada Center in Russia and continues his own analysis of Russian society, responded to an interview with NHK in Moscow. I did.

“Intentional imprinting with state media”

Among them, Mr. Gudukoff said in a poll conducted by the Levada Center late last month, one month after the military invasion, the approval rating of Russian President Putin was 83%, exceeding 80% for the first time in about four years. "Many of the supporters are the elderly and those living in rural areas, and their only source of information is the state-run broadcast that conveys the administration's propaganda," many said in state media. He pointed out that it was because the administration's intention was rubbed in when it was true.

Justify military invasion with "denazification"

He added, "The people were afraid of war because they didn't want it. That's why it became necessary to coin the word" denazification "in Ukraine. It's a good way to put it all together. I think these expressions and the instigation of the masses in a row of lies are essential to support Mr. Putin's policy, "said Putin, who unilaterally made Ukraine's Zelensky administration. He analyzed that the reason for repeatedly emphasizing the need for "denazification" in analogy to Nazi Germany is to justify a military invasion for the people.

The result of propaganda and information control ...

According to Mr. Gudukoff, in 2013, 75% of Ukraine said that "Russia should not interfere" with Ukraine aiming to join the EU = European Union before the public protests against the Russian government. On the other hand, 22% of the respondents answered that they should definitely stop including armed forces.

However, "the situation changed completely when the propaganda that'the security of Russian residents is threatened in the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine under the leadership of the United States' was spoken," he said, as a result of the Putin administration's propaganda and information control. He pointed out that public opinion was formed that effectively accepted the invasion of Ukraine, which the administration called "special military operations."

The origin of Putin's idea "It is a nation that is respected because it is scary ..."

Regarding the origin of Putin's idea, Mr. Gudukoff described it as "Russian fascism" and "depending on the concentration of coercion and power, by allocating the staff of special institutions to important positions in society, even the economy, education, and religion. We are trying to strengthen management. "



He emphasized that President Putin was from the former Soviet intelligence agency KGB = National Security Board, and said, "I dream of a powerful nation that is feared to join forces with military headquarters. It is respected because it is scary. It is a nation. I believe that "dominance by fear" forms the nation, and I think that "holding nuclear weapons" is the reason why it is respected by the world. "

"President Putin's eyes are clearly clouded."

"His biggest mistake was that it actually brought a crisis to the entire structure of international affairs since World War II," he said. "President Putin reveals his hatred for Ukraine and his extraordinary obsession. My eyes are clouded, "he said, expressing concern that he would continue to attack in the future.

What is "Levada Center"?

The Levada Center was founded in 2003 by liberal sociologist Yuri Levada.

Mr. Levada was active in a government-affiliated polling agency that was established at the end of the Soviet era, but he set up the Levada Center independently with his like-minded colleagues and was independent without receiving financial support from the government. Continues to poll and analyze.



The investigation is being conducted in cooperation with the governments and organizations of Japan and Europe and the United States, and after the death of Mr. Levada in 2006, the sociologist Mr. Lev Gudukoff took over as the director.

It deals with Russia's political economy and social issues in a wide range, and from about 10 years ago, criticisms of the government such as "Russia is becoming a corrupt authoritarian country" have been developed in research reports.



In 2016, the Levada Center was designated as a "foreign agent" meaning a so-called "foreign spy" by the Putin administration, saying that it was involved in "political activities" with foreign funds, and requested a strict income and expenditure report. In addition, there is pressure such as being obliged to clearly indicate that he is a "foreign agent" in the presentation materials.



On the other hand, the Levada Center continues to conduct polls and analysis without changing its critical attitude toward the administration, and Mr. Gudukoff himself sharply analyzes domestic social issues as the director of the research department even after he retired as the director in May last year. I am active as a liberal opinion poll.