CHERNOMYRDIN BLOC OPENS FOUNDING CONGRESS.

The “Russia is Our Home” electoral alliance organized by Russian prime minister Viktor Chernomyrdin opened in Moscow May 12. In a scene-setting article, Kommersant-Daily reported May 11 that the meeting was likely to be contentious: organizers have not had enough time to arrange for the arrival of all delegations, and officials around Yeltsin are increasingly concerned about the independence such a bloc will give the prime minister. Nonetheless, those involved with the meeting claimed that they were gaining support especially among the country’s new business and banking elites. The opposing bloc, led by Duma speaker Ivan Rybkin, is also getting organized. Kuranty on May 11 suggested that it would have greater appeal for the regions, pensions, and those fed up with the consequences of reform.

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