ero Hour Draws Near.

Moskovskiy Komsomolets
28 Feb 1997

Report by Ayder Muzhdabayev, "Zero Hour Draws Near".

Rumors to the effect that Chubays is stepping up offensive against Chernomyrdin shortly before the president's Duma [as published, should be Federal Assembly] address are finding an increasing number of confirmations with some of which coming from totally unexpected quarters. From a Russian outback area, for one, which seems to be infinitely remote from even the smell of was is cooking in Moscow, politically that is to say. But this is only at first glance (or sniff).

Literally yesterday, virtually all newspapers in Tambov carried an open letter to the Russian Federation President Yeltsin signed "SDO Representatives Council" with far from all people of Tambov knowing what the SDO abbreviation stands for. The signature instantly spoke volumes to people understanding local politics. The thing is that the SDO stands for the Union of Democratic Organizations. The union is known mainly for the fact that it is a party structure actively supporting the mayor of the city Valeriy Koval, and from time to time it serves as his public mouthpiece. Considering the fact that Valeriy Nikolayevich [Koval] does not make secret of his close contacts with the Russian president's staff and personally with Anatoliy Borisovich [Chubays], it is absolutely clear from where the wind is blowing which makes the provincial democrats come up with such daring political epithets addressed to no less that the head of state. Now for several quotations from this "momentous" document. "Democratic organizations of Tambov Oblast are obliged to turn to you in connection with the fact that reforms in the country have not been virtually conducted in the country for a long time." (A great discovery, sure thing). But this is only the preamble of the complain. Next comes a strike at the actual target. "Tendencies of stabilization (!) that began to emerge in 1996 collapsed as a result of the incompetent course of Chernomyrdin's government." But the piece de resistance of this dramatic tale comes at the end and makes it clear what the authors (or those behind them) are working for, and it is worthy of being reproduced in full. "Dear Boris Nikolayevich! We are convinced: unless there is a radical solution to the question with regard to the government chairman, all talk about revival and prosperity of Russia remains what it is -- talk. "There is no time to be lost today. Probably, the second coming of Gaydar and his team is needed. "Your consistent supporters, we are awaiting for your honest and sincere reply on your decision." Naturally, the letter does not mention Chubays by name although you can see it between the lines. Also there (between the lines) one can read in no uncertain terms whom the presidential chief of staff sees as be members of the cabinet. What role A.B. [Anatoliy Borisovich] is going to play in it is not clear though.