Russian wages rose5.3 percent in June but the cost of living rose 6.9 percent, Russianradio reported June 7. As a result, real wages continued to falland salaries now represent less than 40 percent of the averagefamily's income, Segodnya reported the same day. New Foreign Trade... MORE

TheDuma has passed a revised law on foreign trade which gives thepresident and no one else the right to determine what goods arestrategic and hence subject to restrictions on exports, Itar-Tassreported July 8. But on July 7, Kommersant-Daily reportedthat the Russian government had sharply criticized... MORE

The Dumafailed to override Yeltsin's veto of a bill that would have requiredexecutive branch officials to appear before the Duma wheneverthey were called, Interfax reported July 7. In explaining Yeltsin'sposition, deputy justice minister Anatoly Stepanov said that sucha provision "contributes to suspicion and confrontation." Gaidar... MORE

Yegor Gaidar, formeracting premier and leader of the Russia's Choice electoral bloc,said that social organizations must prepare monitors for the upcomingparliamentary elections in order to assure that the poll is conductedfairly, Moscow radio reported July 9.

The Russian council of ministers has approved a plan to destroyMoscow's 40,000 tons of chemical weapons, Segodnya reportedJuly 7. The price tag for the operation is $5 billion, and theparliament will either have to appropriate the necessary fundsor Moscow will have to seek Western assistance.... MORE

Scientists atthe Snezhinsk laboratories have developed a unique test to determinewhether the operators of a reactor are diverting fuel for militarypurposes, Interfax reported July 8. The scientists claim thatit is "100 percent" effective and promised to show itto the IAEA in August. Perhaps it will... MORE

Russianarms producers will soon be able to sell their products abroadwithout any state interference, Russian radio reported July 9.This reported action comes less than a week after Moscow alloweda fourth firm this right.

New interiorminister Anatoly Kulikov said he is working on a special programto counter terrorism in Russia, but he told Russian media thathis immediate priority was service in the Chechen peace talks.(Replacing Kulikov as commander of internal troops is Gen. AnatolyRomanov.) The new deputy director of... MORE

Although Russia'sdefense industry complex still operates 1800 firms that employ30 million people, production and employment in the sector continuesto fall, Interfax reported July 7. Employment has declined 2.5million since 1990, and production has fallen by more than two-thirdssince January 1994. This year, the state budget... MORE

Most Russian army officershave not been paid for two months, Trud reported July 5,and many of their wives are urging them to take more drastic actionto feed their children. Meanwhile, the Federation Council urgedthe government to give the interior ministry additional moneyto pay its workers,... MORE