TAX COLLECTIONS IMPROVED.

The Russian government collected 1.8 trillionrubles in taxes during the first quarter of 1995 compared with only 3.8trillion for all of 1994, Nezavisimaya gazeta said May 16. While some of thisreflects inflation, most of the gain is the result of tougher lawenforcement. Tax inspectors identified more than 5,000 instances of taxcheating and successfully brought them to justice. The paper noted that fewerthan one percent of those charged with tax avoidance had been able to defendthemselves successfully in court.

Counterfeiters Become Bolder.