RUSSIA- The Sixteenth Messidor of Boris Yeltsin

Though Lebed's rise has been spectacular, almost making Yeltsin appear as a nominal president, it is important to keep in view that this has taken place during a very specific and short period of 16-17 days, between two rounds of presidential elections when Yeltsin needed him badly. Whether this rise will continue after Yeltsin's impressive victory is far from certain.