Yabloko leader Grigory Yavlinsky--who earlier this week charged that the government of Yevgeny Primakov was corrupt and that ministerial portfolios had been "bought"--told Russian Public Television (ORT) yesterday that he had personally sent Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov a series of questions pertaining to the function... MORE

Kremlin press secretary Dmitri Yakushkin told CNN today (October 30) that a panel of ten legal experts will look into changing the Russian Constitution and possibly reinstate the position of vice president. The panel, which will be announced in November, will consider a wide range... MORE

The multinational Caspian International Petroleum Company (CIPCO), a consortium led by the U.S. company Pennzoil, has struck oil at the depth of 3,150 meters while drilling a third exploratory well at Azerbaijan's offshore "Karabakh" field. Drilling will continue for a further 300 meters, probably turning... MORE

Mykhaylo Potebenko, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General, has issued a statement warning Hromada leader and former Premier Pavlo Lazarenko that he has indisputable proofs of Lazarenko's crimes. Potebenko also accuses Mykola Ahafonov, a member of parliament closely associated with Lazarenko, of embezzling US$20 million (for the... MORE

The "Collegiums" (top policymaking bodies) of Russia's Federal Security Service and the Belarusan KGB (still so named) held a joint session in Moscow yesterday. The two organizations' respective chiefs, Vladimir Putin and Uladzimir Matskevich, delivered the main reports. Officials of the Russia-Belarus Union's Executive Committee--which... MORE

Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze yesterday nominated Major-General Vahtang Kutateladze to the post of State Security Minister. The nomination is certain to be approved by the parliament. Kutateladze, 43, has until now been the chief of the State Protection Service, which is responsible for the security... MORE

Two Estonian ministers yesterday refuted Russian assertions that Estonia uses its Finno-Ugric kinsmen in Russia in order to subvert that country. Russia's Minister for Nationality Affairs, Ramazan Abdulatipov, stepped up the accusations last week by claiming that Estonia "brainwashes" guest students of Finno-Ugric nationalities from... MORE

Amid the concern over Yeltsin's readiness for the November 10-13 talks with Obuchi--which are to include negotiations over the disputed Kuril Islands--there have been new indications in recent days of growing unrest among the inhabitants of those islands. On October 26 local officials representing the... MORE

Yuri Luzhkov called Tuesday (October 27) for tough measures to be taken against commercial banks which owe back taxes and other payments. The Moscow mayor lashed out at the capital's tax authorities, saying that they have not been doing their job and demanding that bankruptcy... MORE

Several Russian newspapers treated Grigory Yavlinsky's remarks somewhat critically, noting that by not naming names, he is probably safe from lawsuits while gaining political points. Some said his demarche was another step in his presidential bid. Others called it an attempt to convince Primakov to... MORE