The FBI has arrested three persons -- all described as dedicated Marxists -- on charges of having spied for the former East Germany. Kurt Stand, a union representative, his wife Theresa Squillacote, formerly a senior staff attorney at the Defense Department, and James Clark, a... MORE

Lithuanian president Algirdas Brazauskas has highlighted three factors to explain his decision not to seek reelection. (See Monitor, October 7) First, he named differences over economic and social policy with the parliamentary majority, which has consistently overridden presidential vetoes and declined to debate some presidential... MORE

Russian first deputy prime minister Boris Nemtsov stated yesterday that "the Russia-Belarus Union is tremendously important, irrespective of Lukashenka's personality. Whatever that personality may be, the union represents an enormous gain for Russia geopolitically, psychologically, and spiritually." Nemtsov faulted Lukashenka on two counts only: "behaving... MORE

Reacting to the unexplained assassination of Yavhen Mikalutsky, a state official and personal friend, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka yesterday threatened a massive crackdown on non-state business in Belarus. Mikalutsky, head of the State Control Committee in Mahilyov oblast -- Lukashenka's core political base -- was killed... MORE

Lithuanian president Algirdas Brazauskas announced last night on television that he will not seek another term in the upcoming presidential election. The decision, stunning for most of the public, had only been hinted at by a senior presidential adviser during the day. Also yesterday, the... MORE

The Red Cross is warning that as many as a million people in the former Soviet republics could die this winter of cold and hunger. The international charity says that, with the exception of the Baltic states, all the former Soviet republics face particularly harsh... MORE

A recent poll conducted by the National Center for Public Opinion Research found that 21 percent of respondents thought President Yeltsin acted correctly in suppressing unrest during October 3-4 1993, 37 percent thought that the government's action was too tough, and 12 percent thought it... MORE

Russia's intelligence agencies yesterday denied German allegations that Russian security personnel work in close cooperation with organized crime groups. A study by Germany's BND intelligence agency had also concluded that ties between Russian security personnel and mafia groups is backed by the Russian government. (See... MORE

Turkmen president Saparmurad Niazov yesterday returned to work in his Ashgabat office and resumed official duties for the first time since undergoing emergency cardiac surgery in Germany on September 1. Niazov's work and travel schedule will remain limited for the time being. (International agencies, October... MORE

Russian president Boris Yeltsin met yesterday with Duma speaker Gennady Seleznev, who told reporters afterward that they had discussed ways of increasing cooperation between president and parliament -- and that Yeltsin had said he would not dissolve the Duma. There had been speculation that this... MORE