Boris Gets Stirred, Russia Is Shaken

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The Duma's impeachment efforts gave Yeltsin the context he needed to fire Primakov. The Communists in the legislature began impeachment proceedings to launch their reelection campaign, knowing that if the deeply unpopular Yeltsin dissolves the Duma it will only boost their support at the polls. Yeltsin was more than ready for that fight, firing Primakov and precipitating a showdown with the Duma in order to set the stage for his own bid to hold onto power. If business proceeds as usual, after all, Yeltsin will be forced to vacate the Kremlin some time next year. But if he claims emergency powers, his tenure could become indefinite -- at least as long as his body holds up.

Notwithstanding a brief reinvigoration that began with the Kosovo war, Yeltsin's health remains in serious doubt. "Despite his recent daily public appearances, questions about his health and stamina remain," says Quinn-Judge. "Episodes of good health have become increasingly infrequent interruptions in a long saga of illness and seclusion."

He may be an increasingly detached and oblique czar, but Russians aren't likely to start another revolution. "People couldn't care less any more who is in the Kremlin," says Zarakhovich. "Their only concern is survival." And that leaves the Duma without much backing if the president tears up his own constitution. Yeltsin's ouster still depends less on impeachment than on enfeeblement. Says Zarakhovich, "If he's alive and healthy, he'll never give up power."