THE COMMUNIST Party of the Russian Federation [CPRF] has taken an ambiguous position on the war.
The invasion of Chechenya a sharp test of the Russian people's receptivity to great power chauvinism. Gennady Zyganov's CPRF has both blamed Yeltsin for the war and, opposed self-determination for the Chechens.
Zyganov reportedly has a high opinion of the puppet government installed in the Chechen capital by Yeltsin.
The Russian parliamentary elections are marked by a new flare-up of the war in Chechenya, amongst other things because Yeltsin wanted to use the vote to gain some appearance of legitimacy for the "Chechen government" brought in the baggage of the Russian army.
Gerry Foley
Socialist Outlook 96 • February3, 1996. g