Word: chechnya
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...elections are called before Christmas, no one doubts that Lebed, 46, would win by a landslide. At a time of political stagnation and feebleness, Lebed's successful peace negotiations in Chechnya have given him an aura of dynamism. Phenomenally popular among the public, deeply disliked by the governing elite, Lebed has to all intents and purposes already launched his presidential campaign. But he has handicaps--a scant political base and even less financial support. And his unpredictable, at times imperious ways make it difficult for him to keep the few allies...
...photo opportunities at a time when Russia faces serious threats to its political and military security. Yeltsin's near loss in the recent elections reinforced people's belief that tangible change in Russia has crumbled along with Yeltsin's presidency. The state of Russia is certainly ailing, and Chechnya may very well be Yeltsin's downfall. In this war, what was once a great army is being crushed by a militia of modestly armed rebels. It remains for Yeltsin to regain his resolve to lead a new Russia away from insecurity and uncertainty and toward stability. NEIL PATEL Woodbury...
During the political semiparalysis caused by Yeltsin's disappearance, however, Lebed all but monopolized the media with his Chechnya peace mission. Last week he disclosed chilling new casualty figures for the 20-month war: 80,000 people "plus or minus 10,000" had been killed in the fighting. Three times that number had been maimed or injured, he said, and 60% of the dead were civilians. These figures mean about 30% of Chechnya's 1 million people have been killed or wounded in Yeltsin's vain attempt to impose his will on the tiny republic...
That seems to be exactly what everyone is afraid of. On Thursday when the President emerged from seclusion, he complained that he was "not completely satisfied with Lebed's performance." During the recent election campaign, said a testy Yeltsin, Lebed "said if he had power, he could solve Chechnya. Well, now he has the power, and unfortunately, I still can't see any results." By then Lebed's agreement was already in the works. Was the President unaware of events, or simply determined to cut his rival down a peg? Or was Yeltsin just trying to avoid being the answer...
...initially declined to see his envoy or endorse his blueprint for peace. But later, he reportedly told Lebed by telephone that he generally approved of his initial efforts to end the war and authorized him to hold talks with Chechen rebel leaders on a political accord that would keep Chechnya within the Russian Federation. Lebed headed back to Chechnya over the weekend to work out such a settlement...