Poll shows many want tougher Russian response on Georgia

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Nearly a quarter of Russians believe President Dmitry Medvedev has not been tough enough with Georgia in the conflict over South Ossetia, according to a poll released on Monday.

Some 37 percent of those questioned said Medvedev's stance on the conflict coincided with their own but 23 percent said Russia's position should be "more tough and aggressive".

The poll, by the All-Russian Centre for Public Opinion (VTsIOM), marks the first survey on the president's performance since he ordered a massive military move into Georgia.

A further 28 percent said they had not heard Medvedev's comments on the conflict, seven percent said he should be more cautious and four percent said it was difficult to answer.

"The majority of Russians support a military presence," Olga Kamenchuk, the communications director of VTsIOM, told Reuters.

The release of the results coincided with Medvedev on Monday promising a "crushing response" to any future attack on Russian citizens after the conflict with Georgia over its rebel region.

The reason many people want an assertive response stems from their expectations built up by Putin during his two terms in office, whom Medvedev is seeking to emulate, Kamenchuk said.

Putin now serves as Russia's Prime Minister but many analysts say he still controls Russia.

Shortly after the start of hostilities, Putin made an appearance in a southern region near the conflict zone, meeting wounded troops and refugees.

Medvedev ordered Russian reinforcements to drive back a Georgian bid to retake the region from pro-Moscow separatists on August 7. Russian planes then bombed targets in Georgia and troops entered many Georgian towns, despite strong Western criticism.

"I think one of the reasons for the results is the 'Putin effect'. During his first and second term he (Putin) played the role of the tough guy. Increasingly, Medvedev's using more tough slang language," she said.

"He's corresponding more to the image of the previous president (Putin) during periods of crisis."

VTsIOM polled 1,594 respondents in 46 regions of Russia between August 10-13, or from the height of the conflict until last Wednesday. The margin of error is 3.4 percent.

Other details of the poll were released last week and showed that 54 percent of Russians blamed Georgia for the conflict in South Ossetia and another 22 percent blamed the United States for it. Just one percent held Moscow solely responsible.

(Reporting by Conor Sweeney)