RUSSIA: BORIS YELTSIN APPEALS TO ELECTORATE TO VOTE FOR HIM IN RUNOFF AGAINST GENNADY ZYUGANOV FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Record ID: 328753

  • Title: RUSSIA: BORIS YELTSIN APPEALS TO ELECTORATE TO VOTE FOR HIM IN RUNOFF AGAINST GENNADY ZYUGANOV FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
  • Date: 1st July 1996
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JULY 1, 1996) (RTV / RTR - PART NO ACCESS RUSSIA) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV CENTRAL MOSCOW STREET / PEOPLE WALKING / ELECTION BANNER OVER STREET 0.11 2. MV MAN READING MAGAZINE / ELECTION CAMPAIGN POSTER ON SHOP WINDOW 0.21 3. GV'S CAMPAIGN POSTERS 0.45 (RTR - NO ACCESS RUSSIA) 4. SLV RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SEATED AT MEETING WITH RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN 1.01 5. MV YELTSIN TELEVISION ADDRESS / YELTSIN SAYING WE HAVE ONE RUSSIA, ONE FUTURE, ONE WAY TO A NORMAL LIFE. I ASK EACH OF YOU ON JULY 3RD TO PUT ASIDE YOUR USUAL AFFAIRS, GO TO THE POLLS AND VOTE FOR A NEW RUSSIA YELTSIN SAYING ONLY TOGETHER WILL WE WIN (RUSSIAN) 1.36 (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 6. LV COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER, GENNADY ZYUGANOV SITTING DOWN AT NEWS CONFERENCE, MEDIA 1.50 7. MV ZYUGANOV ADDRESSING NEWS CONFERENCE / ASKS FOR OFFICIAL REPORT ON YELTSIN'S HEALTH (RUSSIAN) 2.11 8. LV INTERIOR COMMODITIES EXCHANGE / DEALERS PREDICTING PERCENTAGES OF VOTES FOR THE TWO CANDIDATES (7 SHOTS) 2.43 9. SCU HEAD OF THE STOCK AND SECURITIES DEPARTMENT, MAXIM BELUSOV, SAYING THE RUMOURS ABOUT YELTSN'S HEALTH ARE NOT OFFICIAL, JUST "LITTLE GOSSIPS" AND NOT SERIOUS FOR PANIC ON THE MARKET (ENGLISH) 3.04 10. GV DEALING ROOMS 3.09 11. GV STREET SCENES / PEOPLE ON STREET / CAMPAIGN BANNERS AND POSTERS (5 SHOTS) 3.25 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 16th July 1996 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • City:
  • Country: Russia
  • Reuters ID: LVA2ER1G6VXMCOFL5FEPDI2OBJK7
  • Story Text: - INTRO: President Boris Yeltsin, out of sight since last Wednesday, appeared on Russian television on Monday (July 1) and appealed to the electorate to vote for him in Wednesday's runoff against communist Gennady Zyuganov. Zyuganov had complained about Yeltsin's absence.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------ Yeltsin, 65, appeared on Russian television, looking stiff and speaking in a slightly hoarse voice, on the last day of campaigning before the election.

    It was unclear whether the two-minute address, which the Kremlin said was filmed on Monday, dispelled doubts about the president's health and ability to rule Russia for another four years.

    Television news showed Yeltsin for the second time, seated in the same room talking with Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin about the election and the results of the Lyon G7 summit.

    "I know exactly what to do, I have the strength, will and decisiveness for that. What is needed now is your support," he said. He added: "Dear voters, we have one Russia, one future, one way to a normal life." Yeltsin had cancelled a series of meetings over the past four days, and aides said he had lost his voice after the strain of the first round of the presidential election. The second round takes place on Wednesday.

    Even if Yeltsin has recovered completely, doubters may consider the secrecy and confusion over his absence since last Wednesday a symptom of some more serious ailment.

    During that time, his aides' vague explanations and their past record of hiding the full truth about the president's health did little to inspire confidence.

    Russians know few hard facts about the health of a man who at 65 is past the average life expectancy for the Russian man. Details of his two heart attacks last year remain scarce.

    But head of Russia's Stock and Securities Deptartment Maxim Belusov said the rumours about Yeltsin's health were just gossip and would not cause panic in financial markets.

    Zyuganov on Monday requested an official report on the state of health of Yeltsin, his rival in the runoff presidential election.

    "We haven't seen Mr Yeltsin for four days," Zyuganov told a news conference in a reference to Yeltsin's disappearence from public eye since last Wednesday.

    "I want to see the official conclusion on the state of health of Mr Yeltsin," he said.

    Zyuganov, 52 and with no evident health problems, was clearly trying to make the most of Yeltsin's sudden withdrawal from active campaigning last week.


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