This article analyses the Russian public opinion during the period between the 1993 and the 1996 elections, in order to understand the nature of the political changes that are occurring in Russia. Overall, one can observe that the Russians are centrist in their orientations: in the field of economics, they do not favour the extremist positions, either monetarism or interventionism; they support the ideal of a mixed economy; in the field of politics, they do not trust in “democrats”, but do not support dictatorship. Their goal is rather gaining individual freedom without sacrificing social guarantees.