When asked which nations had the most damaging influence on Hungary's history, Russia was named by the most people, according to a survey of 1,033 people in the middle of September by social research institute Tarki. 56% of respondents described the historical role of the Russians as very negative. The survey was commissioned by the Slavonic Centre of Budapest's Eotvos Lorand University, however the questions were framed so that participants were not aware that the study was focused on their attitudes to Russians.
Currently just 1% of pupils in Hungary learn Russian at school. When asked to put foreign languages in order of importance, 35% put English in first place, 27% German, 8% Italian, 7% Spanish and 5% Russian.
Respondents were also asked to name three Russians of world cultural importance: 42% were unable to come up with any names at all, The Budapest Times reported.
Well, probably they were right after all. Such Russians simply does not exist.
KC
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