RUSSIA GETS CREDIT RATING.

Russia has been awarded a 2B credit rating by the three leading international rating agencies, Aleksandr Livshits has announced. (NTV, October 7) This puts Russia in the same category as India, Mexico, Hungary, and Slovakia, and ahead of Turkey, Venezuela and Brazil. Livshits said the rating will enable Russia to make its first Eurobond issue by the end of this year, as planned. The government hopes this will attract sorely needed western investment since domestic sources of investment are considered virtually exhausted.

Russian Defense Minister Lists Army Dead in Chechnya.