Russian president Boris Yeltsin told reporters yesterday that he is over his illness and "in good shape." Commenting on U.S. president Bill Clinton's knee surgery, Yeltsin joked, "They were talking about the ill Yeltsin and the healthy Clinton, but it's turned out the other way... MORE

The scheduling of the Russian-U.S. summit in Helsinki has been moved back one day, to March 20-21, in order to allow U.S. president Bill Clinton one more day to convalesce from his recent knee surgery. U.S. officials say that the summit itinerary will not be... MORE

President Boris Yeltsin has vetoed the bill on art works "moved" to the USSR -- principally from Germany -- as a result of World War II and held currently in Russia. Yeltsin objected mostly to some of the bill's procedural aspects and failure to consider... MORE

A recent opinion poll indicates that 48 percent of Russians think Lenin's embalmed body should be removed from the Red Square mausoleum in which it has been displayed since 1924, and buried in a cemetery. Meanwhile, 38 percent think the body of the Bolshevik leader... MORE

Presidents Aslan Maskhadov of Chechnya and Ruslan Aushev of Ingushetia met in the Ingush capital Nazran on March 15 with Georgian defense minister Vardiko Nadibaidze to discuss ways of securing peace and stability in the Caucasus region. According to Nadibaidze, the meeting had the prior... MORE

At least 10,000 residents of Minsk demonstrated on Constitution Day [March 15] in favor of the fundamental law adopted on March 15, 1994, and in support of the parliament which adopted that constitution. The demonstrators denounced President Aleksandr Lukashenko's new, authoritarian constitution and hand-picked parliament... MORE

The Japan National Oil Company (JNOC), Itohu, and two other Japanese firms signed a memorandum of understanding over the weekend with the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan concerning the development of three offshore oilfields in the southern part of Azerbaijan's sector of the Caspian Sea.... MORE

The composition of Russia's new government will be made public today or tomorrow, after a meeting between President Boris Yeltsin and Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin and before Yeltsin leaves Russia for the Helsinki summit, Yeltsin's press spokesman announced. (Itar-Tass, March 16) Chernomyrdin said the government... MORE

Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov signed a decree yesterday forbidding all TV or radio stations other than the official state channel "Ichkeria" from broadcasting in Chechnya. (NTV, March 16) The step was officially explained by the need to take account of republic interests and Islamic principles.... MORE

Meeting yesterday in Djohar-gala, Chechen field commanders resolved to disband all detachments of Chechen fighters that have not become part of Chechnya's 2,000-man regular army. All Chechen field commanders, including Salman Raduev, were reported to have taken part in this meeting. (Interfax, NTV, March 16)... MORE