YAVLINSKY’S SUPPORTERS ENCOURAGE HIM TO FIGHT ON.

Grigory Yavlinsky is still under intense pressure from the Yeltsin camp. Earlier this week, Yeltsin’s associate Vladimir Shumeiko issued a public appeal to Yavlinsky, Lebed, Fedorov and Mikhail Gorbachev to withdraw in Yeltsin’s favor, but all four declined his invitation to a meeting. Yavlinsky’s supporters rallied to defend him against the accusations of the Yeltsin camp that Yavlinsky is "uncooperative" and "ambitious" (the latter is a dirty word in Russian). Arkady Murashev argued at a meeting of Yavlinsky’s supporters on May 28 that the danger of a Communist victory has been greatly exaggerated and that Yeltsin is likely to be reelected whether or not Yavlinsky runs. Another prominent member of Yavlinsky’s party, Viktor Sheinis, argued that Yavlinsky must remain in the election since he is the only serious representative of the democratic opposition. Only his participation in the election will ensure that the democratic opposition survives to fight another day, Sheinis said. (RTR, May 28)

Russian Government Hit by Tax Shortfall.