Over 40% of Russians do not want unification of Russia and Belarus

Over 40% of Russians believe that the unification of Russia and Belarus is not necessary, but it is necessary to maintain good-neighborly relations between the states, the results of the VTsIOM poll showed, RIA Novosti reports.

According to the research, 43% heard about the creation of the Union State of Russia and Belarus for the first time. 57% of Russians know about him, 16% of them are well informed, and 41% have heard something, but without details.

43% believe that the Union State as a union of the two countries is not needed. 22% want to see it as the union of two countries into one on an equal basis, 17% – as the entry of Belarus into Russia, 1% – as the entry of Russia into Belarus.

The survey was conducted among 1.6 thousand Russians over 18 years old.

The Treaty on the Creation of the Union State of Russia and Belarus was signed on December 8, 1999 and entered into force on January 26, 2000. According to the document, the powers of the Union State included foreign policy, defense and security, budgetary, monetary and tax systems, customs issues, energy systems, transport and communications. Moreover, each country retains its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, state structure, constitution and state symbols.