LEBED’S TACTICS SO FAR SUCCESSFUL.

Since Lebed has no real institutional base in the Kremlin establishment, his only means of self-defense is to appeal to the public. So far, the tactic is proving rather successful. Even the firebrands in the Duma who have loudly deplored the Khasavyurt accords are waiting to see which way the cat will jump. So far, only 30 Duma deputies (out of the 90 required) have signed an appeal to the Constitutional Court to review the constitutionality of the Khasavyurt accords. As of the beginning of this week, even Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party whose members drafted the appeal, had not signed it. (Russian Radio, September 16) Meanwhile, streets in the Chechen city of Shali have been named in honor of Lebed and also of OSCE mission chief and Swiss diplomat Tim Guldimann, who mediated the Khasavyurt accords signed by Lebed and Maskhadov. (Interfax, September 14)

Differences over Chechnya’s Status Undiminished.