Ukrainian citizens trust the Armed Forces of Ukraine the most (65% of respondents), followed by the church (63%) and volunteer organisations (63%). These are the results of research conducted by the Razumkov Center’s sociological service together with the Ilko Kucheriv.“Democratic Initiatives” Foundation.
Within the research framework, 2,022 respondents, aged 18 and over, were interviewed in all regions of Ukraine (except Crimea and the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts). The sample represented the adult population of Ukraine, according to the fundamental socio-demographic indicators.
Thus, according to the research, 53% of Ukrainians trust the State Emergency Service, 53% – volunteer battalions, 52% – the State Border Guard Service, 50% – mass media, 49% – the National Guard of Ukraine, and 47% – NGOs.
Regarding all other institutions, Ukrainians expressed distrust more often than trust. For example, 49% of citizens do not trust the President of Ukraine, 75% do not trust the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, 72% do not trust the government of Ukraine, and 78% do not trust the state authorities in general.
In addition, Ukrainians expressed a high level of distrust in the judiciary as a whole (77.5%), the Supreme Court (69%), and local courts (67.5%). The respondents mainly do not trust the Prosecutor’s Office (73%), the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (71%), the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (70.5%), the Anti-Corruption Court (70%), and the National Agency for Prevention of Corruption (70%).
Among law enforcement agencies, distrust in the police and the Security Service of Ukraine was expressed less often, although it prevails over trust anyway. Thus, 58% of respondents do not trust the national police (just 33% trust it), patrol police (54% and 35%, respectively), and Security Service (56% and 31%).
71% of respondents do not trust political parties, and about 50% do not trust trade unions.
The fact that, in general, the state authorities lead in the level of distrust (78% of respondents do not trust it) indicates a high level of estrangement between government and society, which leads to a negative assessment of government activities. The exceptions were the authorities that provide defence and security of citizens (Armed Forces, State Border Guard Service, National Guard of Ukraine, State Emergency Service).
There is also a tendency of a decrease in the level of trust. Thus, if in December 2019, 51.5% of respondents distrusted the government, in July 2020, their number increased up to 72%. The share of people who did not trust Verkhovna Rada increased from 54% to 75%, and distrust in the President rose from 31% to 49%.
Source: www.promoteukraine.org
