YELTSIN APPROVES ELECTION DISTRICT LAW.

On August 17, BorisYeltsin signed a law that defines the borders of electoral districtsfor the December 17 Duma vote, Russian radio reported. Under theterms of the law, the number of voters in each constituency cannotvary more than 10 percent from the number in any other. Once thelaw is promulgated–something that should happen this week–politicalparties can formally nominate candidates for the single-memberdistricts. In other action, Yeltsin signed a law that will allowthe government to regulate certain natural monopolies, includingpipeline routes and airports, to protect consumers, and vetoeda measure that would have set the terms for dividing the wealthon Russia’s continental shelf between Moscow and the regions adjoiningparticular sections of the shelf.

Russian Cabinet Approves Draft Commercial Secrets Bill.