RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES PERSECUTED 220 JOURNALISTS IN CHECHNYA,PAPER SAYS.

The Russian Glasnost Fund said that the Russianauthorities have subjected 220 journalists trying to cover theconflict in Chechnya since December 1994 to various forms of persecution,Rossiya (no. 25) reported. Few of them have received anyredress for the illegal actions of the authorities, the paperadded. One case that has attracted international attention mayhave a different outcome: the murder of journalist Natalya Alyakinaas she attempted to make her way to Budennovsk during the hostagecrisis. Severny Kavkaz (no. 31) reports that the Pyatigorskmilitary prosecutor is almost finished with its preliminary investigationand may soon bring the murder case to trial.

Idea That "Russia is Not Ready For Democracy" Spreads mong Elite.