CHECHEN WAR NO LONGER SO POPULAR.

Public support for the Russian war effort in Chechnya appears to be on the wane. A Russia-wide poll taken by the independent research center ROMIR in June found that only 33.7 percent of Russian citizens to one extent or another support the actions of the federal forces in Chechnya, while 53.5 percent oppose those actions, and 12.8 percent have no clearly defined opinion. In March of this year, 42.8 percent had supported the actions of the Russian troops, with 46.4 percent opposing them. The June survey also found that 20.2 percent of respondents advocate a full withdrawal of Russian forces from Chechnya and a recognition of the independence of the republic (up from 15.3 percent in June) (ROMIR, July 3).