Almost half of the residences of Russia approve the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which initiated the division of Europe into spheres of influence between the USSR and Nazi Germany. This is evidenced by the data of the poll conducted by Levada Center.
In general, the pact is approved by 45%. At the same time, the pact is condemned by 17% of Russians.
And 38% of the respondents "do not know anything about this" or found it difficult to answer.
The survey was conducted August 18-22, 2017 among all-Russian sample of urban and rural population (1600 people aged 18 and above in 137 settlements of 48 regions of the country). The poll was conducted by personal interview method.
The nonaggression pact, signed between the USSR and Nazi Germany in August 1939, contained a secret protocol according to which Europe was in fact divided into two spheres of influence. Hitler received a carte blanche for the occupation of western and central Europe, Stalin was permitted to seize the Baltic states and parts of Poland (western Ukraine and western Belarus). Having arranged this secret agreement, the USSR and Germany attacked and occupied Poland from two directions in September 1939. An attack on Poland is considered to be the beginning of the World War II.