CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST CHECHEN SEPARATISTS MAY SOON BE CANCELED.

Criminal charges against Chechen opposition leaders Zelimkhan Yandarbiev, Aslan Maskhadov, and Movladi Udugov may soon be canceled. According to Duma Deputy Speaker Mikhail Gutsiriyev, the Duma at its next session on November 10 will debate an amnesty for participants in armed conflicts in Chechnya. The amnesty would cover Russian troops who deserted from the federal forces but would not include people accused of premeditated murder, banditry, and other serious crimes. (Itar-Tass, Echo Moskvy, October 29)

No Russian-NATO Agreement This Year.