Russian foreignand defense ministry officials told Interfax July 30 that Moscowwould discuss selling additional weapons to India during Indianforeign minister Pranab Mukherjee's August 3-5 visit. Among thesubjects for discussion will be the resumption of Russian deliveriesof cryogenic engines for rockets, and the licensing of the... MORE

FAPSIdirector Aleksandr Starovoitov, told Izvestiya July 28that Western security services are using an "informationweapon" against Russian telecommunications and banking. Hesaid that the use of such technologies against the government'scommunications system could be even more threatening than "weaponsof mass destruction." Such a public appearance by Starovoitov,who... MORE

Defenseministry officials unveiled a monument in Moscow July 30 to Russianparatroopers who died in the Chechen war, Russian radio reported.The marble memorial is inscribed with the names of 18 membersof paratroop units killed there. Meanwhile, the Russian culturalministry said that it lacked the funds necessary... MORE

Ina minor crisis that began July 27, a Chechen unit transportingarms through Daghestan seized and then released a number of hostages,Russian television reported. Russian forces have surrounded thesix Chechen fighters and are negotiating for their surrender. Russian Troops in Moscow Deny They're Fighting Terrorism.

Russianairborne troops introduced into Moscow during the Budennovsk hostagecrisis told Segodnya July 29 that their service in Moscowhas "nothing to do" with anti-terrorist measures andsimply reflects the authorities' desire to appear to be strugglingwith crime. Stavropol Troops Put on Alert.

The chief of the Stavropolregion police department Lt. Gen. Viktor Medveditskov put histroops on alert July 29, Interfax reported, "because of thesituation in the North Caucasus." Stavropol is where Budennovskis located, and officials there may have feared some kind of Chechenaction as negotiators moved toward... MORE

Yeltsin'sstaff is concerned that Bashkortostan, Tatarstan and Kabardino-Balkariyahave exceeded their authority by making agreements with Georgia'sAbkhaz region, Russian radio reported July 29, citing unnamedsources at the Russian foreign ministry. Moscow recently has tiltedtoward Tbilisi in the Georgian dispute with the breakaway republicof Abkhazia. Chechen Forces... MORE

BorisYeltsin resubordinated the Main Protection Service (GUO) to hisown Presidential Security Service (SBP) and promoted that group'schief, Aleksandr Korzhakov, to the rank of lieutenant general,Ostankino television reported July 28. At the same time, Yeltsinnamed GUO chief Maj. Gen. Yuri Krapivin and new Kremlin commandantSergei Strygin... MORE

Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev on July 30 reiterated Russianobjections to any independent role for NATO forces in Bosnia,Interfax said. He argued that the United Nations must have thelast word on any air strikes or other use of force there. In arelated comment, Yeltsin's security aide... MORE

Few Russians expectpeace to break out in Chechnya any time soon, but only 3 percentare willing to resume fighting there, Interfax reported July 28.Most believe that the Chechens will continue to fight regardlessof any accord which may be signed. One reason for such beliefsis the... MORE