GRACHEV WON’T RUN.

Russian defense minister Pavel Grachev released a statement on Thursday officially denying that he plans to be a candidate in the December parliamentary elections, in spite of numerous appeals from military and civilian organizations that want to see him run for office. The fact that he has had so many would-be nominators is evidence, according to Grachev, of the broad authority and respect enjoyed by the armed forces. At least one political commentator in Russia has argued, however, that all the election-related activity on behalf of Grachev in recent weeks was orchestrated by the defense minister himself. (3)

Communist Party Ahead