The Ekho Moskvy radio station noted that Kulikov's preference for strong action against the possible threat of terrorism from Chechnya coincides with the opinion of "a considerable part" of the Russian population. Commentator Aleksei Venediktov said Kulikov's statement was therefore "a carefully calculated political move"... MORE

After decades of Soviet-era security paranoia, many Russians remain far more sensitive to matters of espionage -- suspected or real -- than do most Europeans. The arrest of Richard Bliss (see preceding item) is a case in point. The case against Bliss seems to rest... MORE

Security Council secretary Rybkin discussed the situation in the Northern Caucasus this week with Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov and with the presidents of North Ossetia and Ingushetia, Akhsarbek Galazov and Ruslan Aushev. (Itar-Tass, January 7-8) It is unclear why Rybkin ignored the leader of Dagestan.... MORE

Georgy Tal has been appointed head of Russia's bankruptcy service. He replaces Petr Mostovoi, sacked by President Yeltsin last November in connection with the "book scandal" in which Mostovoi and other associates of First Deputy Premier Anatoly Chubais were accused of accepting large payments from... MORE

Despite a series of not entirely consistent statements from Moscow, indications yesterday were that an American technician accused by Russian authorities of spying will not have to return to Russia for trial. Richard Bliss, an employee of the San Diego-based telecommunications company Qualcomm, was arrested... MORE

Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov says his republic is ready for any turn of events. He was speaking after meeting Chechen field commanders to discuss the situation in Chechnya and the Northern Caucasus. The meeting follows calls by Russian interior minister Anatoly Kulikov for preemptive strikes... MORE

Russian Security Council secretary Ivan Rybkin referred only indirectly to Interior Minister Kulikov's controversial call for preventive strikes yesterday, commenting that "Some people in the government want to resolve the issue of Chechnya according to the Bolshevik principle: 'everything, and right away'... Their logic is... MORE

In a speech to staff and students of Kazakhstan's State University in Almaty, President Nursultan Nazarbaev announced that the government is considering switching the official script from Cyrillic to Latin. Without indicating a time frame, Nazarbaev linked the intended change to his program of computerization... MORE

The Social-Democrat Party is not to be confused with the United Social-Democrat Party, whose electoral slate is headed by former president Leonid Kravchuk and former prime minister Yevhen Marchuk. While those two protagonists of the establishment have adopted the social-democrat label primarily as a matter... MORE

Improving relations between Russia and Japan appeared to hit a speed bump yesterday as a Russian Foreign Ministry official lashed out at Japanese prime minister Ryutaro Hashimoto for remarks on the Kuril Islands territorial dispute made by the Japanese leader in a New Year's day... MORE