Ukrainians more forgiving

Hard life does not always make people crueller; sometimes it has the opposite effect. According to the all-Ukrainian survey by the Kyiv-based Horshenin Institute of Management Problems, 42.7 percent of Ukrainians advocate reinstatement of the death penalty for grave crimes.

The figure is impressive, especially if we consider the rampant crime rate in Ukraine: according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 201,200 crimes were committed in the country last year, including 36.5 percent of grave and especially grave crimes. The tendency is approximately the same this year.

In February 2007 experts found that 58.7 percent of Ukrainians supported the death penalty, i.e., in a year the number has gone down by 16 percent. People appear to be kinder and not wanting to live by the principle “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” We should also note that, according to the survey, 34.4 percent of the respondents (26.1 percent in 2007) believe that the death penalty must be resumed in Ukraine under any circumstances.

What are the things Ukrainians cannot forgive? The death penalty for making and peddling drugs is approved by 16.6 percent of the respondents, for accepting especially large bribes by state officials—12.5 percent, for embezzling especially large amounts of state property—5.3 percent, for high treason—2.7 percent, and for other crimes—4.4 percent. A little over three percent of the surveyed citizens found it hard to answer the question.

At the same time, more Ukrainians developed a liberal attitude to euthanasia: this year 40 percent are against it, compared with 52.3 percent in November 2007.

This year 38 percent of the respondents believe that euthanasia should be possible in case when person is suffering from an incurable disease. Only 18.4 percent said that any person has to have the right to euthanasia without providing any reasons, while 4.2 percent of the surveyed participants did not have a clear opinion on this issue.

Experts say that the results may be attributed to the characteristic features of Ukrainian mentality and Ukrainian traditions, which condemn suicide. Another factor is the influence of Christianity, which teaches that sufferings serve a purpose in a person’s life.