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United Russia won the parliamentary elections with 37% of the votes and 105 single-seat districts; voter turnout was 56%. The Russian Federation Communist Party came in second with 12.7%, followed by the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia with 11.6% and the Motherland Bloc with 9.1%. Russian president Vladimir PutinEs comments on the election results and the implications of the defeat of the rightists are discussed.

Citizens? groups are meeting throughout Russia to bridge the expanse between citizens and political authorities.

Russia's Davos alliance of young reformers, television entrepreneurs and banks has been divided following conflict over the purchase of shares in the Communications Invest Telecommunications Company (Svyazinvest). The alliance held much political power and keenly promoted the reform team following its creation just prior to the presidential election. The destruction of the alliance has been blamed on its creator, Anatoly Chubais, who was accused of protecting the ONEKSIMbank over other Davos interests.

Russian President Boris Yeltsin's reelection in 1996 is attributed to several factors. Although Yeltsin's charisma influenced the voters, most of the votes he got were negative votes against Gennady Zyuganov. The youth, media, intellectuals, and government officials voted against Zyuganov. Alexander Lebed's support, and adroit use of the media and popular rhetoric also helped Yeltsin. Zyuganov's failure to project a progressive image and his ambiguous stand on private property rights were among other factors.

Pres Boris Yeltsin claims that the creation of a Council of the Federation is needed to improve the cooperation and administration of the former Soviet Republics. He has also suggested that a transitional constitution law should be adopted to solve the problem of dual power in Russia, at a conference of the Council of Heads of Republics in Petrozavodsk. Leaders of the republics may agree to this as it would give them access to greater power, because the Council of the Federation would form the upper house of the future parliament.

Moscow, Russia, mayor Gavril Popov appointed market economist Larisa Piyasheva to run the city's privatization program in Nov, 1991. Piyasheva's plan to sell off all service enterprises in two months met with stiff opposition, initially by vice mayor Yury Luzhkov. Eventually, the municipal administration, the city government and the Moscow City Soviet settled their differences and proceeded with the privatization. Rapid opening of markets was considered important because of the forthcoming winter food shortage brought on by declining central state supplies.

The measures that president has to take in order to stop terrorist attacks and improve national security are suggested. Party officials demand the accountability of security forces and offer their support to president is summarized. The information regarding conterterrotist steps taken by the government is demanded.

The legal proceedings iniatiated against the Yukos company and its subsdiaries resulted in the arrest of Platon Lebedev, a close associate of the Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The political motives behind the crackdown on Yukos top management are discussed.

An analysis of the reasons behind the decision to remove Boris Jordan from his position as general director of Gazprom-Media. Some have contended that Jordan was fired in order to clear the way for the signing of a gas transit agreement between Gazprom (Russia), gas company, and KazTransGaz (Kazakhstan), gas company, but this reason is dismissed and it is contended that the real reason for his removal lie in election-year politics and Jordan's unwillingness to turn NTV, the television company that he heads, into a servile 'agitprop machine' of the Kremlin.

Issues are presented concerning the reforms which are being made to the Federation Council by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The senators voted in favor of the reforms by 119 votes to 18.

A growing number of senators are voicing their objections to governmental changes put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Russian Federation Council objects to president Boris Yeltsin's proposed reorganisation of regional powers and has requested that Yeltsin reverses his decision to curb Maritime Territory governor Yevgeny Nazdratenko's authority. Council members are increasingly concerned that Yeltsin's programme will reduce regional powers and impact their role in the national election process.

Russian leftists and rightists have raised concerns about Aleksandr Lebed's rising popularity. Many fear that the country's political regime could undergo a major change come Mar. 1997 with Lebed at the helm. Others believe that Lebed's popularity gives him an edge over other candidates from any party. Lebed also poses a threat to the part of power since his presence has managed to weaken the supposedly unshakable bloc of bureaucracy and power.

Russian presidential candidates are meeting with prominent politicians and businessmen to mobilize support in their favor. Pres Boris Yeltsin's meeting with Aleksandr Lebed and Grigory Yavlinsky hints at the possibility of third force candidates' withdrawal in exchange for high positions. Gennady Zyuganov declines to commit to a political accord with Yeltsin in his meeting with businessmen. Election strategists feel that offering the posts of Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to rivals can ensure Yeltsin's victory. Yavlinsky proposed economic reforms and end of Chechen war to Yeltsin.

The Russian Federation Communist Party (RFCP) has two central committees and two leaders with questionable credentials as a result of 'parallel' report-and-election congresses. The claims of Gennady Zyuganov and Vladimir Tikhonov before the Ministry of Justice about their legitimacy are delineated.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and the religious heads of Islam and Orthodox Church motivate the Russian citizens to cast their right to vote. Political campaigns associated with the elections and measures taken by the State Duma and the Central Electoral Commission to improve the voter turnover rate, are delineated.

Issues concerning Russian Federation Communist Party's opposition to the negative portrayal of communists and communist parties by state-run television channels are discussed. The shameless and straightforward approach of the TV channels in hyping the ruling party and degrading the opposition party is evaluated.

The selective approach of Prosecutor General's Office with regard to Yukos litigation case is analyzed. The views of business enterprises as voiced by the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, on past privatization deals and the causes and consequences of the law-enforcement establishment's attack on Yukos are reviewed.

The potential crisis that the United Russia party faces from Vladimir PutinEs declining affiliation is discussed in light of recent non-attendance by the president for a forum meeting. The different strategies that the party has adopted to propagate itself are described.

The emerging political developments in Russia, which is gearing up for the December elections are discussed. Communists have declared that leftist election coalition has been formed to overcome the campaign of the Popular-Patriotic Union of Russia.

Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs's (RUIE) proposal for restructuring government reforms is discussed. The proposal considers all matters related to administrative, financial, pension and customs reforms that are directly related to business functioning in the country.

The Duma election campaign is seen as the KremlinEs nationwide referendum on the eKhodorkovsky affairE. Activities of the anti-oligarch Kremlin parties are discussed, and the various pressure tactics and psychological aggression against the Russian Federation Communist Party (RFCP) during the campaign are examined.

Political analysts give their explanations about Putin's victory. These include Putin being the compromise candidate of a number of powerful groups, and the people wanting a powerful leader who could solve their problems.

Aleksandr Rutskoi, the Russian Vice-President, and Pres Boris Yeltsin are strangely alike in their love for simple decisions, their choleric temperament and their idealism. Yeltsin remained a social democrat during Gorbachev's 'Marxist-Leninist' days, but switched to the right when Gorbachev became a preacher of social reform. Both Rutskoi and Yeltsin are capable of impetuous decision-making, and their rivalry has rendered the volatile political situation in Russia dangerous.

Power relations in Russia will change dramatically with the establishment of the Council of Federation in Sep 1993. The documents regulating the functioning of the 'consultative-advisory body' have been completed. These documents state that the council will give advice on all vital questions regarding the domestic and foreign policy of the state, including President's resignation. These recommendations will be difficult to ignore by the Congress.

Pres Boris Yeltsin's advisers offered different alternatives to resolve the Constitutional crisis. Vladimir Sumeiko favored a referendum because further dialogue with Parliamentary head Ruslan Khasbulatov will be fruitless. On the other hand, Sergei Shakhrai stated that the Yeltsin and Khasbulatov should pursue a compromise agreement while Sergei Filatov proposed a combination of the two proposals. Yeltsin favored Filatov's proposal but both he and Khasbulatov expect that a proposed pact submitted to Congress will be rejected. Likewise, the Deputies believe that a negotiated pact cannot be superior to the Constitution.

Pres Boris Yeltsin admitted the failure of economic reforms in Russia. He stated that macroeconomics had been overemphasized while the interests of individuals and firms had been overlooked. Yeltsin also approved of the proposals of the Civic Alliance, although acting PM Yegor Gaidar criticized them. This difference of opinion between the two indicates that Yeltsin intends changing the direction of reform.

Russian Supreme Soviet member Ilya Konstantinov feels the National Salvation Front's immediate objective is to prevent Russia's disintegration and to make Pres Boris Yeltsin and his government resign unconditionally. The Front also aims to establish a national salvation government with the active participation of the Russian public. Konstantinov believes that these changes can be achieved if the Congress of Russian People's Deputies alters the Constitution. He also feels that administrative control over the Russian economy is required and that stability can be achieved through political means.