DUMA AGREES TO CONSIDER SENATE APPEAL, BUT NOT IN PLENARY SESSION.

Publication: Monitor Volume: 2 Issue: 56

The lower house of the Russian parliament agreed yesterday to consider the appeal made to it by the upper house to review its March 15 resolution on restoring the Soviet Union. But the Duma declined to debate the matter in plenary session and referred the matter to factions and deputy groups. Only after that discussion has taken place will the Duma decide whether to reopen debate in plenary session. The speaker of the Senate, Yegor Stroyev, responded with a statement that, if the Duma refuses to review its decision, the upper house "reserves the right" to return to the matter itself. (Interfax, March 20) The Duma also rejected a proposal supported by "Russia is Our Home" and Yabloko to dismiss its speaker, Gennady Seleznev, on the grounds that he altered the wording of the controversial resolution after last week’s vote was taken. The majority of deputies agreed that, while the speaker had overstepped his mandate, the changes he made were insignificant. (Russian Television, March 20)

Communists Make Belated Attempt to Put Own Spin on Vote.