MOSCOW. Nov 16. (Interfax) - Russians have developed a tendency toward ethnic intolerance, Public Opinion Fund sociologists say.

About 62% of Russians believe it is necessary to restrict the access of certain ethnicities to their parts of the country, and only 24% oppose such a move, a poll conducted in November says. The proportion of those who oppose such apartheid-like policies has considerably decreased, as compared with the data of six months ago: in April, 32% of Russians spoke against such policies.

The poll, which involved 100 locations in 44 regions, territories and republics of Russia found that 52% of Russians said they would approve a resettlement of some ethnic groups out of their region, while 31% of those polled would oppose such a move.

The data practically replicate the results of a poll by the Public Opinion Fund carried out in October 2004. In April, supporters and opponents of a hypothetical resettlement of other ethnic groups were equal in numbers, 42 and 41%.

Relatively old citizens are more tolerant on these issues than the youth and middle-aged people.

At the same time, 55% of the respondents say they have never felt irritation towards members of other ethnic groups; 23% of respondents say they had experienced such a feeling, though rarely, and only 18% say they harbor such feelings.

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