DUMA FAILS TO PASS MOTION FOR BOMBINGS INVESTIGATION.

On April 19, at a session of the Russian State Duma, deputy Viktor Alksnis of the “Regions of Russia” faction moved that the Duma create a parliamentary commission to investigate the September 1999 explosions of apartment buildings in Moscow and Volgodonsk, events that served to precipitate the second invasion of Chechnya. “One hundred and seventy-two deputies,” it was reported, “including the Communist Party of the Russian Federation faction in its full membership, a significant number of the representatives of ‘Regions of Russia’ and the Union of Right Forces and even three members of the pro-Kremlin ‘Unity’ faction voted ‘for’ the motion. Seventy-seven deputies voted against.” Alksnis failed to obtain the necessary 226 votes for passage of his motion (APN.ru, April 19).