DATE=12/25/94

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-171380

TITLE=U-S/CHECHEN (S ONLY)

BYLINE=VICTOR BEATTIE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A NEWSPAPER REPORT SAYS THERE MAY BE A POWER SHIFT IN

RUSSIA'S LEADING ELITE AS A RESULT OF THE CONTROVERSIAL RUSSIAN

MILITARY CAMPAIGN IN THE BREAKAWAY CHECHEN REPUBLIC. AS V-O-A'S

VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS, SUCH A MOVE COULD SOON BE EVIDENT:

TEXT: THE BOSTON GLOBE -- QUOTING A SOURCE FROM THE U-S CENTRAL

INTELLIGENCE AGENCY --WAS NOT SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT KIND OF SHIFT

MIGHT OCCUR. HOWEVER, THE PAPER QUOTES SOURCES FAMILIAR WITH

THE INTELLIGENCE REPORT WHO SAY IT IS A CAUTIOUSLY-PHRASED

WARNING OF A POSSIBLE MOVE AGAINST PRESIDENT YELTSIN.

RUSSIAN EXPERTS ARE WARNING THAT THE MILITARY CAMPAIGN AGAINST

CHECHNYA HAS CAUSED DEEP DIVISIONS WITHIN THE YELTSIN GOVERNMENT.

THEY BELIEVE THE CONTINUING CONFLICT HAS WEAKENED MR. YELTSIN'S

POLITICAL POWER.

ACCORDING TO THE U-S SOURCE QUOTED BY THE NEWSPAPER NEARLY A WEEK

OF RUSSIAN BOMBINGS OF THE CHECHEN CAPITAL GROZNY HAVE STIRRED

DEEP DISSENT WITHIN THE RUSSIAN ARMED FORCES. SOME SENIOR

OFFICERS HAVE DENOUNCED THE OPERATION FOR ITS BRUTALITY WHILE

OTHERS SAY THEY WILL REFUSE ORDERS TO INVADE THE MOSTLY-MUSLIM

CAUCASUS REGION WHICH ANNOUNCED ITS INDEPENDENCE THREE YEARS AGO.

ONE COMMANDER WHO REFUSED SUCH ORDERS HAS ALREADY BEEN

DISCIPLINED.

THE REPORT WAS PUBLISHED ONE DAY BEFORE MR. YELTSIN IS DUE TO

MEET WITH HIS NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL IN MOSCOW IN WHAT IS

VIEWED AS A CRUCIAL SESSION. A YELTSIN SPOKESMAN SAYS MONDAY'S

SESSION COULD BECOME A FORUM FOR A NO--HOLDS-BARRED DISCUSSION

BCHECHENETWEEN SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS OF THE MOVE AGAINST

CHECHENYA.

NEB / VIC / TLS

25-Dec-94 10:47 PM EST (0347 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America