POPULATION DECREASES
Izvestia, February 22, 2000, p. 1
The population of the country reduced by almost 800,000 in 1999. This is the largest level of decline since 1992.
As of January 1, 2000, there were just over 145 million Russians.
Over the last eight years the country’s population decreased by almost 2 percent or 3 million. In 1999, 380,000 immigrants settled in Russia while almost 215,000 left the country.
THE CITY OF PENZA IS KEPT IN INFORMATION DARKNESS
Izvestia, February 22, 2000, p. 2
Experts of the Russian Glasnost Foundation who studied the condition of living and state of affairs in the Penza region say that its residents are given only about 10 percent of information on what is really happening in the region. The figures were released in a joint memorandum signed by editors of three local independent newspapers.
THE COMMUNISTS IN KYRGYZSTAN…
Moskovsky Komsomolets, February 22, 2000, p. 2
… came in first in the first multiparty parliamentary election in the country.
Almost 80 percent of the republic’s residents turned up at their respective polling stations, setting a record in the process. The voters were not even baffled by the long list which included nine parties and two blocs battling for seats.
Since Kyrgyzstan regained independence it has lost almost all its working population. A great deal of Russian-speakers left the republic because of the wave of nationalism and discrimination.
INVESTMENTS GROW
Rossiiskaya Gazeta, February 22, 2000, p. 1
In 1999, for the first year within the course of the democratic reforms, a one percent growth of investments was registered. Investments totaled 598.7 billion rubles, according to the Economic Ministry’s report “On the results of the socioeconomic development of the Russian Federation in 1999”.
MARCHUK’S JEEP IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
Komsomolskaya Pravda, February 22, 2000, p. 3
While leaving Kiev late on Friday, the Jeep of Yevgeny Marchuk, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of the Ukrainian President, was in a traffic accident. Blinded by another car, the driver lost control of the Jeep.
General Marchuk was President Kuchma’s rival at the recent presidential election.
PUTIN IN VOLGOGRAD
Tribuna, February 22, 2000, p. 1
Acting president Vladimir Putin will attend festivities organized to celebrate the upcoming Day of Defender of the Fatherland in the city of Volgograd.
VYAKHIREV MEETS WITH NIYAZOV
Trud, February 22, 2000, p. 1
Last Saturday Rem Vyakhirev of Gazprom visited Ashkhabad and met with President Saparmurat Niyazov of Turkmenistan.
According to Vyakhirev, a long-term agreement may be signed with Turkmenistan in April on the purchase of Turkmen gas. A bilateral commission was set up to draft the agreement.
PUTIN MEETS WITH SENIOR OFFICERS
ORT (Russian Public Television), News program, February 21, 2000, 15:00
Acting president Vladimir Putin received senior officers of Russian security ministries in the Kremlin today to commemorate the Day of the Defender of the Fatherland which comes up on February 23. The audience took place in the Alexander Hall of the Big Kremlin Palace. According to the time-honored tradition, Putin personally announced the promotion of senior officers to higher ranks. Air Force Commander-in-Chief Anatoly Kornukov became an army general, and Navy Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Kuroyedov became a fleet admiral.
According to Mr. Putin, the military is regaining society’s respect.
PUTIN MEETS WITH DEPUTY PREMIERS
Russian Television (RTR), “Vesti” program, February 21, 2000, 13:00
Antiterrorist operation in Chechnya will be brought to its logical end, acting president Vladimir Putin announced today at his meeting with Russian generals. He emphasized that “this is a matter of complete liberation of the republic and restoration of Russia’s territorial integrity”.
Putin chaired a session which was attended by deputy premiers, and the Chechen topic was at the top of the agenda. According to Senior Deputy Premier Mikhail Kasianov, the issue of paying compensation to the population for the property destroyed in the hostilities was also discussed along with post-war restoration in Chechnya and Dagestan.
BAGLAI REELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT
ORT (Russian Public Television), News program, February 21, 2000, 15:00
Marat Baglai was reelected chairman of the Constitutional Court today. Eighteen members of the Court out of nineteen voted for reelection.
The law on the Constitutional Court specifies that its chairmen are elected for three years. Nevertheless, since Baglai will be 69 on March 13 his term in office may last only a year.
