FEDERATION COUNCIL BLOCKS TV PRIVATIZATION.

The upper house ofthe Russian legislature approved a bill banning privatizationof state television channels until appropriate legislation isadopted, Moscow television reported May 23. More significantly,at least in the short term, the approved measure also blocksthe public television company ORT from using Ostankinofrequencies and property. The Duma approved this bill lastmonth; and it now goes to Yeltsin for signature. Yeltsin’sadvisors have dropped broad hints that he may simply ignore thebill thus keeping Russian television in limbo, and increasinghis control of it.

Estonia Will Not Extend Alien Registration Deadline.