Accusations by Grigory Yavlinsky, head of the liberal Yabloko movement, concerning corruption in Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov's cabinet, provoked a series of denials and countercharges Wednesday, some of them quite furious. In an interview published Wednesday (October 28) in Britain's "Daily Telegraph," Yavlinsky, an economist... MORE

The recent eleventh-hour decision to send Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov to Vienna in place of Russian President Boris Yeltsin has cast a spotlight on the adverse impact that the Russian leader's poor health is having on the country's diplomatic efforts. Yeltsin had been scheduled to... MORE

The new command of Russia's border troops has announced an intention to beef up its Operational Group stationed in Turkmenistan. The announcement followed the recent visits to Central Asia by the troops' commander, Colonel-General Konstantin Totsky, and his deputy, Lieutenant-General Vladimir Kruglik. The Operational Group's... MORE

Kazakhstan's former Prime Minister Akezhan Kazhegeldin announced on October 22 that he had submitted his nomination to the Central Electoral Commission (CEC). His potential criminal record, however, might outlaw his candidacy. According to this year's amendments to the electoral law (issued as a presidential decree... MORE

Foreign Minister Irakly Menagarishvili announced yesterday that Georgia has requested explanations from Moscow on Defense Minister Igor Sergeev's statement that Russian ground forces will continue to be stationed in Georgia in the future. Pending the desired clarification from Moscow, Menagarishvili retorted that "no country has... MORE

In Moscow yesterday and in Chisinau today, Russia's Foreign Ministry released a declaration rejecting Moldova's recent appeal for observance of the unhonored agreement of 1994 on the withdrawal of Russian troops (Itar-Tass, October 26; Flux, October 27. On Moldova's appeal see the Monitor, October 22).... MORE

Independently from one another, the leaders of the Rukh, Vyacheslav Chornovil, and of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Anatoly Matvienko, cast doubt on their parties' support of Leonid Kuchma's presidential bid in the fall of 1999. Chornovil announced that his party will support neither Kuchma... MORE

Following talks yesterday in Beijing with Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Russian State Duma chairman Gennady Seleznev said that the Chinese leader has no intention of canceling or postponing his upcoming trip to Moscow. Jiang is scheduled to visit Moscow from November 22-25 for an informal... MORE

Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Maslyukov has apparently taken a major step toward winning control over Russia's arms export establishment. News agencies reported on October 26 that Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov had signed off on a resolution ordering the creation of a government commission... MORE

Ignoring the latest admonitions from Moscow, NATO member countries yesterday decided to maintain the threat of air strikes against Yugoslav targets if Belgrade fails to comply with international demands. The decision, meant to maintain pressure on Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, came as Belgrade authorities hurriedly... MORE