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.

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.