VOTING BEGINS IN RUSSIA’S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS.

Officially, polling day in Russia is December 17, but 1,000 Russian border troops kicked off the process yesterday when they voted in far-flung border outposts and on sea-going vessels. (1) In all, some 200,000 border troops are expected to vote in special booths set up in border units in Armenia, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Heavy Fighting Erupts in Chechnya.