DATE=4/12/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247964
TITLE=RUSSIA IMPEACHMENT UPDATE (L ONLY)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RUSSIA'S LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT HAS VOTED TO DELAY
IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN. FROM
MOSCOW, VOA'S PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS THE POSTPONEMENT CAME AFTER
MR. YELTSIN CHALLENGED LAWMAKERS TO DEBATE THE ARTICLES OF
IMPEACHMENT PROMPTLY -- OR DROP THEM ALTOGETHER.
TEXT: THE KREMLIN MONDAY PORTRAYED PRESIDENT YELTSIN AS CONFIDENT
OF FENDING OFF THE IMPEACHMENT THREAT THE COMMUNIST AND
HARDLINER-LED "DUMA," OR LOWER HOUSE, HAS BEEN HOLDING OVER HIM
FOR MONTHS. A STATEMENT SAID MR. YELTSIN HAD TOLD THE SPEAKER OF
THE HOUSE TO GET ON WITH THE IMPEACHMENT DEBATE THIS WEEK, AS
SCHEDULED, OR DROP IT FROM THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ONCE AND FOR
ALL.
BUT LAWMAKERS ARE RELUCTANT TO GIVE UP ONE OF THE FEW WEAPONS
AVAILABLE TO THEM IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST RUSSIA'S POWERFUL
PRESIDENCY. SO FACTIONAL LEADERS CHOSE A THIRD OPTION MONDAY --
VOTING TO KEEP THE IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS ALIVE, BUT AT A SLOWER
PACE.
COMMUNIST LEADER GENNADY ZYUGANOV TOLD REPORTERS THE DELAY IS
NEEDED TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR GATHERING EVIDENCE.
///ZYUGANOV ACT IN RUSSIAN, THEN FADE TO...///
HE SAYS "IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERY SIDE BE ABLE TO PRESENT ITS
VIEWS ON THE CHARGES AGAINST MR. YELTSIN." THE COMMUNIST CHIEF
SAYS HE WANTS TO HEAR ALL EVIDENCE, ADDING "OF COURSE THAT MEANS
THE PROCEEDINGS MAY DRAG ON FOR DAYS."
THAT PROMPTED PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN DMITRY YAKUSHKIN TO COMMENT
THAT COMMUNISTS WERE USING THE IMPEACHMENT MOTION EXCLUSIVELY AS
WHAT HE CALLED A "TOOL OF POLITICAL BATTLE."
THE IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES CHARGE MR. YELTSIN WITH SEVERAL CRIMES,
INCLUDING DESTROYING THE SOVIET UNION, DISSOLVING THE SOVIET-ERA
PARLIAMENT DURING A FIGHT WITH LAWMAKERS IN 1993, STARTING THE
ILL-FATED WAR IN CHECHNYA, RUINING THE NATION'S ARMED FORCES, AND
WAGING GENOCIDE AGAINST THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE THROUGH HIS HARSH
ECONOMIC POLICIES.
EXPERTS SAY ONLY ONE -- THE CHECHNYA WAR CHARGE -- HAS MUCH
CHANCE OF SECURING THE 300 VOTES NEEDED FOR APPROVAL IN THE
450-SEAT DUMA. EVEN IF IT PASSES, HOWEVER, THE ARTICLE MUST THEN
BE APPROVED BY BOTH RUSSIA'S TWO HIGHEST COURTS AND THE UPPER
HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT -- SOMETHING CONSIDERED HIGHLY UNLIKELY.
(SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/PCF
12-Apr-99 12:39 PM EDT (1639 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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