DUMA CONSIDERING NO CONFIDENCE MOTION.

On June 21, the Russian parliament began debate on a motion of no confidence in the Chernomyrdin government. The deputies took this step after Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin said he hoped they would go ahead with the debate, Itar-Tass said June 21. Segodnya said June 20 that the motion might carry despite Chernomyrdin’s securing the release of the hostages, but the paper suggested that most deputies would be satisfied if the prime minister would dismiss one or more of the so-called “power” ministers. Even if the Duma passes the measure, Chernomyrdin’s government would not be forced out quickly. The Duma would have to vote again before the Russian president would have to take action. Yeltsin kept mum on his plans in this regard: “I will have my say. And it will be as I say,” he told Itar-Tass June 21. Meanwhile, the Duma’s communist fraction has launched a drive to impeach President Yeltsin, Russian radio reported June 20. That measure–which requires a super majority of 300 votes in the lower house–is almost certain to fail.

Yeltsin Orders Investigation into Budennovsk.