Russians feel Western countries hostile: poll

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Half of all Russians believe big Western countries are hostile to Russia's interests, according to a new poll published on Monday by pollsters VTsIOM.

The poll was conducted before the outbreak of fighting in Georgia but it comes against the backdrop of growing strains between the Kremlin and the West over Russia's military intervention in its ex-Soviet neighbor.

The United States and the European Union have demanded Russia pull its troops back to their pre-conflict positions, while officials in Moscow say Western governments have turned a blind eye to Georgian aggression.

The poll found 47 percent of Russians feel large Western countries like the United States, Germany, Britain and Japan seek to solve problems at Russia's expense.

Only 37 percent felt the same countries had a common interest with Russia in tackling issues like crime and terrorism.

In a separate question, 44 percent said Russia should cooperate more closely with countries that do not share the West's views, to act as a balance in global affairs. A further 33 percent said Russia should work more closely with the West.

The poll was based on questions asked on 12-13 July, 2008, among 1,600 people at 140 polling points across Russia with a margin of error of 3.4 percent.

The poll was carried out three weeks before the outbreak of fighting between Russia and Georgia over the breakaway South Ossetia region. Separate polls conducted since then have shown strong public support for the Kremlin's stance.

(Reporting by Conor Sweeney; editing by Elizabeth Piper)