Yelena Melikhova, head of Laboratory of Social-Psychological Consequences of Radioactive Accidents of Nuclear Safety Institute

– In polls you must care for the wording of your question

45% of residents of Kaliningrad show a positive attitude towards the construction of Baltic NPP in the region, say the results of the public opinion poll conducted by Kaliningrad Express monitoring group in May 2009. 19% support the project, 26% do not object to it if it complies with ecological and technical standards, 43% object, 5% do not care, 7% cannot decide. During the poll conducted by Tsirkon group in Mar 2008 only 32% showed positive attitude towards the project. So, we can see that the support for the project is growing.

In polls you must care for the wording of your question. Much depends on what word you use – for example, nuclear or atomic energy. One word may sound more negative than the other and cause relevant reaction.

The changes in the public opinion are the result of the crisis. Last year there was panic about Ignalina NPP, earlier, about Leningrad NPP. And it was a nationwide panic. This year everything is much calmer. People no longer make a big noise about groundless rumors. In “fat” years foreign countries also experience such situations. Today, we all are facing a crisis and we have much more real grounds for panic. And the public opinion has switched to them.