Executivesof three leading Estonian banks told BNS August 4 that they seea substantial potential for commercial banking in Estonia's heavilyindustrialized, Russian-settled region in the northeast. The banksplan to provide services to the region's large enterprises assoon as their privatization begins. They also intend to use... MORE

Five tombstones weredefaced in the Jewish cemetery in Vilnius, BNS reported August4. Police are investigating the incident, the second of its kindin Lithuania this year. The first incident, which occurred inKaunas, was found to be a case of ordinary vandalism without antisemiticmotives. Moscow Eyeing Belarus... MORE

Under NATO's Partnershipfor Peace program, the US-Lithuanian military exercise "AmberHope 95" began August 4 at Rukla training grounds in centralLithuania, BNS reported. The US finances the exercise and providesthe equipment, weapons, and military instructors who will supervise140 Lithuanian soldiers. The first stage, which ends August... MORE

In what seems an equallyagile electoral adjustment, Yabloko leader Grigory Yavlinsky wascited by Interfax August 6 as telling a closed-door conferenceof its central council that Yabloko's position is "pro-military." He said that "Russia needs a strong modern army, especiallyin view of the extreme instability on... MORE

Confirmingwhat the Monitor reported August 2, Foreign Ministry chiefspokesman Grigory Karasin told Russian and Western agencies August4 that ministry staff is "quitting in droves": juniorstaffers, particularly recent academic and diplomatic school graduates,because of miserly salaries, and senior staffers because of thelure of private sector jobs.... MORE

GeneralDmitri Volkogonov, a leading historian of the Soviet period, toldInterfax August 4 that his latest findings show that 21.5 millionpeople were sent to labor camps from the 1929 agricultural collectivizationuntil Stalin's death in 1953. According to Volkogonov's estimates,approximately one third of that number were executed... MORE

On August 5 Indianforeign minister

Early returns fromthe August 6 vote for the head of Sverdlovsk oblast administration suggest that no candidate will receive a clear majority and thata runoff will be required, Itar-Tass reported August 6. Turnoutwas low, but incomplete vote counts suggest that Eduard Rossel,the head of the... MORE

Presidential aidestold Russian and Western agencies August 5 that Boris Yeltsinis due back at work in the Kremlin August 7. According to theaides, Yeltsin feels well and has fully completed his rehabilitationtreatment. Yeltsin was hospitalized July 11 after a mild heartattack, and has been recovering... MORE

Nationally prominent businessmanIvan Kivelidi died of poisoning August 5. Kivelidi was presidentof Rosbiznesbank, chairman of Russia's Business Round Table,and founder of the weekly Vek. According to his deputyVladimir Shcherbakov, Kivelidi and his secretary were poisonedby radioactive cadmium. Fellow-bankers consider his death "politicalmurder," Russia's Radio reported... MORE