Howard Dicus: But bigotry grew in Russia, where Westernization was opposed not only by Communists, but by Nationalists pandering to prejudice. These people dominated the Russian Parliament and threatened Boris Yeltsin's presidency.
Jeff Berliner: “President Boris Yeltsin surprised the nation by going on television and announcing that he was suspending all legislative authority and dissolving the legislative bodies.”
Howard Dicus: UPI's Jeff Berliner in Moscow reported that the Parliament refused to disband and anti-reformers began to arm themselves inside the home of the Parliament. When they tried to seize a TV station, Yeltsin acted. His forces fired on the Parliament building.
Jeff Berliner: “Cannon blasts from the tanks have set it ablaze in the middle of the building in the middle of the tower that rises from this edifice on the Moskva River. Black smoke has been rising from the building; flames are often visible from the windows.”
Howard Dicus: Late in the year, Russians voted on a new Western-style constitution and a new Parliament. They gave Yeltsin his constitution, but backed the Parliament with many of the same people who had opposed reform.
This is the Year in Review from UPI.
