OMRI DAILY DIGEST
No. 114, 12 June 1996

ZYUGANOV PROFESSES MODERATION. Although he was recently quoted in a
Hungarian newspaper praising Stalin (see OMRI Daily Digest, 11 June),
Gennadii Zyuganov struck a moderate tone during 11 June appearances at
Moscow's Dom Zhurnalista and on NTV. He promised several times to
respect a multi-party system and freedom of speech if elected. When
asked about the more extreme elements in his coalition, Zyuganov argued
that the real radicals in Russia are President Yeltsin and his team, who
"unleashed a war in Chechnya" and "ruined the economy." He dismissed
recent opinion polls showing Yeltsin's support growing faster than
"bamboo," adding "ratings don't grow from 6% to 40%; any sociologist
knows that." Zyuganov also denied that he had offered Vladimir
Zhirinovsky several cabinet posts in exchange for his support. -- Laura
Belin in Moscow

COUNCIL OF EUROPE HEAD CONCERNED OVER PREMIER'S STATEMENT ON CAPITAL
PUNISHMENT. Council of Europe (CE) Secretary General Peter Leuprecht
during a two-day meeting of European Ministers of Justice in Budapest
expressed concern over Prime Minister Gyula Horn's recent statement that
a referendum should be held on reinstating the death penalty in Hungary,
domestic media reported on 12 June. Horn embarrassed his justice
minister, Pal Vastagh, who is chairing the meeting, by saying he would
vote yes in such a referendum (see OMRI Daily Digest, 10 June1996).
Leuprecht also criticized Russia and Ukraine for continuing to implement
capital punishment despite their acceptance into the CE, Reuters
reported. All CE countries must sign the European Convention on Human
Rights, which condemns the death sentence. -- Zsofia Szilagyi

[As of 12:00 CET]

Compiled by Susan Caskie
Compiled by Victor Gomez