A top Russian diplomat said May 15 that while military support for one or another political grouping in the Balkans might win Russia some immediate diplomatic gains, only the establishment of a strong economic presence in the region can assure it of long-term influence. With... MORE

An unnamed Russian diplomat has dismissed concerns reportedly expressed by Tapei over Russia's growing military cooperation with China. The Taiwanese government was said to be especially anxious over Beijing's plans to build Su-27 jet fighters under a Russian license. The diplomat said that Russia has... MORE

The first deputy commander of Russia's beleaguered navy complained May 15 that the government pays little attention to the fleet's problems and that the navy has "neither a faction, nor individual deputies in the State Duma." Northern Fleet Commander Oleg Yerofeyev told the same conference... MORE

The U.S.-Uzbekistan Committee for Defense Industry Conversion held an organizing meeting in Tashkent yesterday. Uzbek prime minister Utkir Sultanov and U.S. assistant secretary of commerce Barry Carter signed documents on the joint committee's working procedures and its goals of reorienting defense sector materiel and labor... MORE

One month before Russia's presidential election, Boris Yeltsin yesterday ordered an end to military conscription by the year 2000. The decree, which would shift Russia over the next four years to a voluntary, professional army, will undoubtedly be applauded by young people and other Russians... MORE

President Boris Yeltsin signed a decree yesterday calling for the gradual phasing out of capital punishment. (Interfax, May 16) The move is in line with Russia's entry into the Council of Europe, which urges its members to outlaw the death penalty. Its implementation will, however,... MORE

President Boris Yeltsin met for a second time late Thursday with Yabloko leader and presidential candidate Grigory Yavlinsky. Both sides were tight-lipped about the content of the discussion but it appears that no definitive agreement has yet been reached. Yavlinsky told Russia's Independent Television after... MORE

Sergei Baburin, leader of the Russian People's Union and a key member of the nationalist and Communist coalition supporting Gennady Zyuganov's electoral campaign, has said that if Zyuganov is elected president, he will keep a number of members of the present government in place. Baburin... MORE

The Chechen State Council, the highest political authority of the resistance, announced yesterday that it had forbidden its forces from taking any action against Russian president Boris Yeltsin if he visits Chechnya, or against any other Russian officials until their possible role in the slaying... MORE

Russian presidential candidate and retired Lt. General Aleksandr Lebed yesterday dismissed Defense Ministry proposals to form a counter-bloc to an expanded NATO. In an article in the Russian daily Nezavisimaya gazeta, Lebed said that such a Moscow-led bloc -- which has been called for repeatedly... MORE