In a poll conducted in March with 5,000 Russian participants, 26% of Russians were seen to believe that businesses that have left the country will take from 3 to 5 years to return while 40% believed that the departing companies will be back within one year, according to Synergy University research reported by TASS.

"Forty-two percent of those polled believe most Western companies that left the country will come back within a year. Another 26% believe it will take the companies 3 to 5 years to return. According to 24% of respondents, the Western companies will come back in 5 to 10 years, and another 8% do not expect the companies to resume operations at all," the research says.

In the context of the research, 24% foresee a negative impact on Russia's domestic economy as a result of Western companies leaving Russia, while 36% expect a positive impact. Among the participants, 40% said that the foreign brands' mass outflow will have little impact on the economic situation in the country.

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As for those who were indifferent or optimistic about foreign companies leaving Russia, 43% said that their departure will make Russia less dependent on foreign manufacturers, 23% believed the country won't be needing to adhere to Western policies, 18% said it would contribute to developing domestic businesses, 4% said it would make jobs available for Russian specialists, and 12% were indecisive.

According to the poll, 58% of participants believe Russian businesses will be able to fully or almost fully replace the departing foreign brands, while 42% suggest that domestic entrepreneurs would only partially do so. Chinese and Russian brands will replace the gap in the market, as per 47% of participants. Some quarter of participants expects Indian brands to be introduced in the country, while 19% expect Turkish brands and 9% believe firms from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries will fill the gap.

As for the nationalization of the assets of the departing companies, over 39% of participants approve while 26% oppose the idea and 35% were indecisive. The poll showed that 55% of citizens are against the personal sanctions imposed on Russian businessmen and their families while 28% are indifferent about the measure and 17% supported it.

While 63% of Russians believe that the situation in Russia today is favorable for entrepreneurship, 37% have an opposing position. 69% of participants say that now is the good time to pursue a business education, while 31% oppose the idea.

On another level, 76% believe providing businesses in Russia with as much support as possible, such as giving them additional incentives, is necessary, while 24% disagree.