MOSCOW - Russia faces no threat of a social explosion, newspaper Vremya Novostei reported today, citing analysis of poll results received by ROMIR Monitoring and the Russian Social Projects Institute (InOP). Researchers maintain that within the past few months, Russians have been shown as accepting democratic values, reconciling themselves to the existence of large businesses and showing moderate social optimism.

More than 15,000 people in 59 Russian regions and republics took part in large-scale soundings the researchers compared to a population census. Revolution was not reigning in the mood of Russians, the findings showed, InOP director Valery Fadeyev pointing to evidence that all social classes had adopted democratic values despite earlier perceptions of Russia being undemocratic.

On the contrary, it seems the community is stable and most citizens have adopted themselves to new living conditions. The analysts say that all social classes, excluding pensioners, favor democratic institutions and a free market system. According to data released by the institute, since former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachyev’s perestroika of 20 years ago, Russians have become accustomed to the new, and distinct social classes have been formed, the newspaper reported. An overwhelming majority of Russians approved of the nation switching to a free market economy and Russia was an open society showing no xenophobic tendency.

Meeting in Bratislava, Presidents George Bush and Vladimir Putin discussed Russia’s adherence to democratic values. The Kremlin leader said Russia would pursue fundamental democratic principles, would not work out a Russian version of democracy and would not turn back to totalitarianism. He stressed, however, that imposing democratic principles should be carried out with regard to Russia’s social development, its history and its traditions. “No wonder that these principles are reflected in every country,” he said, adding that major democratic tenets would be adopted in Russia in the same way as they had been approved by other countries.

Russia’s former leading politicians, despite their failings, had successfully granted freedom to the people, the key advance, as Putin called it. Imposing democratic values should not result in a collapse of the state and the people’s impoverishment, the major target being a stronger state and improvement in the quality of life.

President Bush noted Putin’s contribution to the development of democracy in Russia, stressing the Kremlin leader’s essential role in its nurture. Where there were disagreements with his Russian counterpart, these were discussed, he said.