President Boris Yeltsin met yesterday with Anatoly Chubais and gave his public endorsement to a program of tough fiscal measures proposed by the first deputy premier. Yeltsin's move was seen as an effort to calm market jitters over the health of Russia's economy. Observers, however,... MORE

Some 3,500 workers demonstrated in Yekaterinburg on February 3 to demand payment of overdue wages and better legislation on workers' rights. (Itar-Tass, February 3) The federal government has already said that the adoption of a new labor code is one of its main priorities for... MORE

Russian President Boris Yeltsin today publicly affirmed his support for First Deputy Premiers Anatoly Chubais and Boris Nemtsov, saying they will remain in the cabinet until the year 2000. (BBC, February 5; for related report, see below) Yeltsin Backs Chubais' Austerity Program.

Tuberculosis (TB), the world's leading infectious killer, has reached "epidemic proportions" in Kazakhstan, according to the republic's Institute of Tuberculosis. (Itar-Tass, January 27) Addressing a press conference at the institute on January 27, the head of the government's health committee (within the Ministry of Education,... MORE

Russian President Boris Yeltsin's electoral endorsement of Leonid Kuchma as president of Ukraine -- and, implicitly, of Kuchma's camp in the upcoming parliamentary elections (see Monitor, February 2 and 3) -- leaves the Party of Reform and Order in an uncertain position. The PRO has... MORE

Writing in yesterday's issue of Nezavisimaya gazeta, Russia's Security Council deputy head Leonid Mayorov and Council department chief Dmitry Afinogenov maintain that ongoing international processes require Russia and the CIS countries to create their own military alliance. NATO's eastward enlargement in particular "represents a very... MORE

The boardroom struggle for control of Russia's state-controlled electricity monopoly, United Energy Systems (UES), reveals deep splits in Russia's political economy. On January 27, UES's board of directors elected Anatoly Dyakov as its new chairman and removed Boris Brevnov, protege of First Deputy Prime Minister... MORE

The crisis in Iraq was occasion for a tumultuous day in Moscow yesterday. Government spokesman reiterated that the Russian diplomatic mission to Baghdad is producing results. Russian lawmakers rallied to back the Kremlin's line on Iraq. The government statements -- issued by spokesmen from both... MORE

President Boris Yeltsin warned this morning that a military action against Iraq could trigger a world war. He said President Clinton is acting "too carelessly" in the dispute over UN weapons inspection with Baghdad. (BBC, February 4) (See below for more on Iraqi developments) Armenian... MORE

President Levon Ter-Petrosian announced on national television last night that he is resigning his office. According to the constitution, the Chairman of Parliament -- currently Babken Ararktsian -- is next in line to fill the vacant post of president. The Prime Minister -- currently Robert... MORE