DATE=5/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249413
TITLE=RUSSIA/POLITICS (L)
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS ESCAPED THE THREAT OF
IMPEACHMENT. V-O-A'S EVE CONANT IN MOSCOW REPORTS THE COUNTRY'S
COMMUNIST-DOMINATED PARLIAMENT FAILED TO MUSTER THE NECESSARY
NUMBER OF VOTES TO BEGIN THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS.
TEXT: SATURDAY'S VOTE WAS A DISAPPOINTMENT FOR ANY RUSSIAN WHO
WANTED TO SEE PRESIDENT YELTSIN OUT OF OFFICE.
NOT EVEN ONE OF THE FIVE CHARGES CONSIDERED BY PARLIAMENT WON
ENOUGH VOTES TO LAUNCH IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS.
COMMUNIST LAWMAKER IGOR BRATISHEV SOUNDED GRIM AS HE READ OFF THE
NUMBERS.
///NAT BRATISHEV IN RUSSIAN FADE UNDER///
HE ANNOUNCES THE RESULTS OF THE CLOSEST VOTE -- THE CHARGE
ACCUSING PRESIDENT YELTSIN OF ILLEGALLY WAGING WAR IN CHECHNYA;
EVEN THAT ACCUSATION FELL SHORT OF THE NEEDED MAJORITY.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR PARLIAMENT'S HISTORY, RUSSIAN
LAWMAKERS HAD THE CHANCE TO VOTE OPENLY TO REMOVE A RUSSIAN
LEADER FROM OFFICE. BUT MANY GAVE UP THAT CHANCE -- OF THE 440
SEATS, ONLY 348 LAWMAKERS SHOWED UP FOR THE LANDMARK VOTE.
A LOW TURNOUT INCREASED CHANCES THE IMPEACHMENT VOTE WOULD FAIL.
THE OTHER FOUR CHARGES UNDER CONSIDERATION RANGED FROM ACCUSING
PRESIDENT YELTSIN OF COMMITTING "GENOCIDE" AGAINST THE RUSSIAN
PEOPLE WITH INEPT ECONOMIC POLICIES TO PERSONALLY CAUSING THE
COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION. THE OTHER TWO CHARGES ACCUSED MR.
YELTSIN OF DESTROYING RUSSIA'S ARMED FORCES, AND VIOLENTLY
CRUSHING A PARLIAMENT REBELLION IN 1993.
JUST BEFORE THE VOTE, COMMUNIST LEADER GENNADY ZUGANOV ANGRILY
CALLED FOR LAWMAKERS TO UNITE IN OPPOSITION.
///ACT ZUGANOV IN RUSSIAN AND FADE UNDER///
HE SAYS -- ANY OF YOU WHO VOTE FOR PRESIDENT YELTSIN VOTES FOR A
NEW CHECHNYA, NEW SHAME AND LAWLESSNESS.
KREMLIN OFFICIALS SAY THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT RESPONDED CALMLY TO
THE NEWS AND NOW WANTS PARLIAMENT TO RETURN TO ITS USUAL DUTIES.
MOMENTS BEFORE LAWMAKERS VOTED, OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED MR. YELTSIN
HAD UNDERGONE A ROUTINE MEDICAL CHECKUP. NO OTHER DETAILS WERE
GIVEN.
THE NEXT BATTLE BETWEEN RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT AND PARLIAMENT COMES
WEDNESDAY WHEN LAWMAKERS WILL VOTE ON PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S NEW
CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER. IF LAWMAKERS FAIL TO APPROVE OF
HIS CHOICE WITHIN THREE VOTES, THE PRESIDENT CAN DISSOLVE THE
ASSEMBLY. (SIGNED)
NEB/EV/DW/GE
15-May-99 1:53 PM EDT (1753 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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