DRUNK RUSSIAN SOLDIER BREAKS INTO US EMBASSY

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DRUNK RUSSIAN SOLDIER BREAKS INTO US EMBASSY

Izvestia, January 12, 2000, p. 2

The Moscow City Military Prosecutor’s Office, which is handling the case of the incident on the premises of the US Embassy, has acknowledged the actions of an American marine, who shot to kill, to be legal and well-grounded.

On January 10, 19-year-old Yevgeny Ivanov, a private of Military Construction Detachment Number 33888, while intoxicated, climbed over the fence of the Embassy, started a Chevrolet jeep, and began driving it around the Embassy grounds. While doing so he collided with several parked cars, including the car of the ambassador. According to the US Embassy, the man did not respond to the verbal warnings of the Embassy security guard. Having decided that the actions of the inebriated serviceman threatened the staff of the Embassy, the American marine fired several shots and wounded the joy-rider. Ivanov was taken to the hospital of the Sklifosovsky Institute, where he underwent an urgent operation.

MIR TO FLY ON

Rossiyskaya Gazeta, January 12, 2000, p. 1

Today the board of the Russian Aerospace Agency is to decide whether another mission will be sent to the Mir space station.

According to representatives of the Energia Rocket-Space Corporation, which services the station, the money for the flight is already found. However, referring to the confidential nature of the commercial conditions, they refused to give more detailed comments. However, it is rumored that Golden Apple, a US company, is to invest $20 million in the project by the end of March. According to our sources on the Internet, $7 million out of this money has already been received. However, the problem of money shortages for Mir persists. Sergei Gromov, an assistant to the Energia General Director, said, “We are hoping that some positive decision will be made at the government meeting on January 20.”

PUTIN PHONES ARMENIA AND BELARUS

Rossiyskaya Gazeta, January 12, 2000, p. 1

Acting Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken by phone with President Robert Kocharyan of Armenia. They discussed some affairs related to preparations for the upcoming meeting of leaders of CIS states, as well as prospects for Russian-Armenian bilateral relations.

Vladimir Putin also spoke by phone with President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus. They discussed affairs related to bilateral cooperation, preparations for the CIS summit, and the meeting of the Superior State Council of the Russian-Belarussian Union State scheduled for January 26.

FIRST GOVERNMENT MEETING SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 13

Rossiyskaya Gazeta, January 12, 2000, p. 1

On January 13, acting president Vladimir Putin will conduct the first meeting of the Russian government for 2000.

According to the State Information Department, the draft agenda shows that the priority topics to be considered at this meeting will be those connected with supporting election commissions with preparations for the presidential election. Deputy Justice Minister Stanislav Yudushkin and Chairman of the Central Election Commission Alexander Veshnyakov will deliver reports on this topic.

It is also expected that a draft federal law will be discussed on introduction of amendments into Article 17 of the federal law on licensing some kinds of activities. A regulation on the Russian Common Weapons Agency will be adopted.

It is also planned to discuss spending a loan from the US Ex-Im Bank on purchasing equipment for the Russian Children’s Clinical Hospital of the Russian Health Care Ministry.

READY FOR THE PRESIDENCY

Parlamentskaya Gazeta, January 12, 2000, p. 1

Several initiative groups for nominating presidential candidates have already submitted documents for registration to the Central Election Commission.

One of them is the initiative group of Aman Tuleev. Zhirinovsky’s initiative group is submitting documents now. Applications from Gennady Zyuganov’s and the Conservative party’s initiative groups have also been received. The Conservative party intends to nominate its leader, Lev Ubozhko, for president.

PUBLIC PREFERENCES FOR DUMA SPEAKER

Moskovsky Komsomolets, January 12, 2000, p. 2

While Duma faction leaders were arguing about the position of Duma speaker, the Russian Public Opinion Study Center conducted a poll on the subject of whom people would like to see in the speaker’s chair. Some 23% of Russians want Sergei Stepashin to be the Duma speaker; 22% want the old speaker, Gennady Seleznev, to retain his position. The youthfulness of Vladimir Ryzhkov, representative of Our Home is Russia, appeals to 13% of respondents.

Representative of the Union of Right Forces Krasheninnikov, Communist Melnikov, and Unity member Gryzlov proved to be outsiders. It is worth noting that the name of Yevgeny Primakov was not included in the poll. Perhaps then the results would have been quite different?

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