CRIMEAN COMMUNISTS BAR FORMER SPEAKER FROM OFFICE.

Communist deputies to Crimea’s Supreme Soviet have sealed up the office of the speaker of in the parliament building in Simferopol. Their aim is to prevent the speaker of the outgoing parliament, Anatoly Grytsenko, from getting into his old office and using the official telephone network. The Communists, who hold thirty-six of 100 seats in the newly elected parliament, want their candidate to be elected speaker when the Supreme Soviet reconvenes on May 14. Crimea’s other, normally squabbling Russian parties have joined forces. So far, they have managed to block the Communist candidate, but they lack the necessary numbers to get their candidate — Grytsenko — reelected to the powerful post. (Ukrainian Television, May 5)

GEORGIAN CHIEF OF STAFF APPOINTED.