Yeltsin's Nemesis Scores a Coup

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MOSCOW: Boris Yeltsin has been warned -- watch out for Boris Berezovsky. As Yeltsins protg Sergei Kiriyenko sets about building a new government, the tycoon Berezovsky yesterday dealt Yeltsin a stunning political blow by being appointed secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States. From a standing start, Berezovsky in 10 days managed to persuade 11 presidents of former Soviet Republics to present Yeltsin with an unpalatable fait accompli, says TIME Moscow bureau chief Paul Quinn-Judge. Berezovsky ran rings around Yeltsin.

Berezovskys money was one of the most significant factors in Yeltsins reelection in 1996, but Yeltsin fired the oil and media baron from a government position late last year. Now Berezovskys won a powerful government post at a time when hes waging a political guerrilla war against Yeltsin, says Quinn-Judge. He may be a lone operator, but hes an extremely effective one. And thats bad news for the Russian president.