Survey: Increased Perception that Many are Afraid to Voice Political Views in Georgia

According to a Gallup survey released this week, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of Georgians who think their fellow citizens are afraid to openly express their political views.

The survey was conducted in former Soviet states. It said: “The most dramatic increases occurred in Georgia and Lithuania; in each country residents were about twice as likely in 2007 as they were in 2006 to say many or most of their fellow citizens are afraid to express their political views.”

In Georgia, the figure has more than doubled since the previous survey in 2006, with 55% in 2007 holding such a view, according to the survey.

One thousand respondents in each country surveyed were asked: “In your opinion, how many people in our country, if any, are afraid to openly express their political views?”