ZHIRINOVSKY DEFEATS CHALLENGE TO HIS LEADERSHIP

. The LDPR’s Krasnoyarsk organization launched a move to oust party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky at the seventh congress of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), held January 10 in Moscow. The Krasnoyarsk rebels accused Zhirinovsky of abusing his position to amass a private fortune and of having caused the party to fall into disrepute. They tried unsuccessfully to replace Zhirinovsky with deputy party leader Alexander Vengerovsky, deputy speaker of the outgoing Duma. The congress nevertheless nominated Vladimir Zhirinovsky its candidate for president in the June election. (5)

Belarusian Parliament Elects Agrarian Leader as Speaker.