Most Czechs perceive Russia as a security threat, a survey by the Median agency for Czech Radio found. Two-thirds of the population agree with the exclusion of Moscow from the competition for the construction of a new unit of the Dukovany nuclear power plant. The survey by iROZHLAS.cz was conducted by Median earlier this week, when relations between the two countries deteriorated significantly after the announcement that Russian agents were supposedely involved in the explosion of an ammunition depot in Vrbětice in the Zlín region in 2014.
Respondents were able to express the level of concern about Russia as a security threat to the Czech Republic on a scale from one to ten. The result was an average value of 6.4.
One tenth of respondents voted the lowest level, meaning that Russia poses no threat. In contrast, 18 percent of survey participants chose the highest grade in response. In total, six out of ten respondents chose the value in the upper half of the scale.
KSČM voters believe that Russia does not pose a security threat. About a fifth of people who don’t consider Russia to be a threat was in the age group of 60 years and older.
In response to information from the secret services about the probable involvement of Russia in the explosion in Vrbětice, the Czech Republic terminated 18 Russian diplomats. The government also excluded the Russian company Rosatom from the planned tender for the construction of a new unit at the Dukovany nuclear power plant.
According to Median, 65 percent of people agree with the elimination of Rosatom. Most of the surveyees were from big cities, they have a university degree and affiliate with ODS and Pirate voters.
A telephone survey was conducted by Median on Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 April. 1,037 respondents over the age of 18 took part in it.