Chechnya
The handling of the Chechnya rebellion will likely have a major negative impact on Russian President Boris Yeltsin as a leader; in fact, if a national election were to occur, he might easily be defeated.
The Russian republic is more far-flung and diverse than the United States. The democratic process will not be easy in a nation long dominated by the Kremlin. Relinquishing power is a hard lesson to learn. They failed the first test.
GARY TRAXLER
Oxnard
The current Russian experiment with democracy is in grave danger of failure because of the unsuccessful invasion of the tiny ethnic region of Chechnya. This invasion has created a major rift in the Russian government that may threaten the current political structure. Democracy in Russia should not be sacrificed for this small state.
The people of Chechnya have been under the oppressive and abusive rule of the Russians long enough. It is now time for them to have a chance to rule themselves and for the Russians to show restraint by allowing them to create their own independent state.
WILLIAM DELO
Irvine
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