CRIMEAN PARLIAMENT BOWS TO PRESSURE.

Crimea’s Supreme Soviet has given in to Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma’s demand for it to bring the date for elections to a new Supreme Soviet forward from September to March 29. This brings Crimea’s elections into line with the schedule in force throughout the rest of Ukraine. (Itar-Tass, February 23) President Kuchma had issued a thinly veiled threat to declare direct rule on the peninsula if the Crimean parliament did not fall into line.

Lukashenka Upholds "Expulsion" of Soros Foundation.