FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIES PERSONNEL SHAKEUP.

On July 19 a spokesman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry denied a newspaper report of imminent personnel changes in the leadership of his agency. He also denied the paper’s allegations that several top Russian political figures would soon be given ambassadorial posts. The Russian daily Izvestiya had projected Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Yarov, the chairman of the Central Election Committee, Nikolai Ryabov, presidential aide Dmitri Ryurikov, and Duma deputy Sergei Shakhrai as potential diplomatic appointees. (Interfax, July 19)

President Shakes Up Azerbaijani Government.