/Users/andrea/_magisterarbeit/korpus/clean/testkorpus/23/file16.html NN ----------------------------------------- : Feature NN Article NN . SENT The DT empire NN state NN Issue NN 197 CD of IN SOCIALIST JJ REVIEW NP Published VVN May NP 1996 CD Copyright NP Socialist NP Review NP Feature NN Article NN . SENT The DT empire NN state NN Dave NP Crouch NP Boris NP Yeltsin NP is VBZ standing VVG for IN re NN election NN as IN Russia's JJ president NN in IN June NP . SENT He PP launched VVD his PP$ campaign NN with IN two CD major JJ policy NN statements NNS made VVN at IN the DT beginning NN of IN April NP . SENT The DT first JJ is VBZ a DT plan NN to TO end VV the DT war NN in IN Chechnya NP , , the DT second JJ an DT agreement NN for IN a DT common JJ market NN , , currency NN and CC defence NN policy NN with IN Belorus NP , , an DT advanced JJ industrial JJ country NN of IN 10 CD million CD inhabitants NNS lying VVG between IN Russia NP and CC Poland NP that WDT won VVD its PP$ independence NN from IN the DT USSR NN in IN 1991 CD . SENT Both DT initiatives NNS have VHP been VBN hailed VVN as IN skilful JJ moves NNS that WDT will MD assist VV Yeltsin NP to TO victory NN . SENT Both CC , , however RB , , are VBP deeply RB flawed VVN . SENT When WRB Russian JJ troops NNS went VVD into IN Chechnya NP in IN December NP 1994 CD , , the DT minister NN of IN defence NN , , Pavel NP Grachev NP , , believed VVN that IN the DT war NN could MD be VB won VVN by IN one CD paratroop NN regiment NN in IN 36 CD hours NNS . SENT Now RB , , 15 CD months NNS later RBR , , Russian JJ troops NNS and CC bombers NNS are VBP still RB conducting VVG operations NNS on IN a DT grand JJ scale NN . SENT The DT sheer JJ ferocity NN of IN Russia's JJ onslaught NN is VBZ terrifying JJ . SENT according VVG to TO official JJ figures NNS , , which WDT are VBP likely JJ to TO grossly RB underestimate VV the DT true JJ situation NN , , 20 CD , , 000 CD people NNS have VHP died VVN and CC 600 CD , , 000 CD have VHP been VBN made VVN homeless JJ . SENT Russian JJ state NN terrorism NN has VHZ provoked VVN two CD cases NNS of IN mass JJ hostage NN taking VVG by IN the DT Chechen NP resistance NN , , the DT last JJ incident NN in IN January NP , , when WRB 2 CD , , 000 CD people NNS were VBD seized VVN in IN a DT hospital NN in IN Dagestan NP . SENT The DT Russian JJ media NNS even RB those DT sections NNS which WDT had VHD initially RB opposed VVN the DT war NN bayed VVN for IN Chechen NP blood NN , , calling VVG for IN Russia NP to TO shoot VV the DT mad JJ dogs NNS , , words NNS consciously RB taken VVN from IN Stalin's NP show VVP trials NNS of IN 1937 CD . SENT The DT majority NN of IN Russians NPS were VBD undoubtedly RB in IN favour NN of IN freeing VVG the DT hostages NNS by IN force NN . SENT However RB , , the DT Russian JJ state NN is VBZ so RB weak JJ and CC deeply RB divided VVN that IN the DT attempt NN by IN troops NNS to TO free VV the DT remaining JJ 150 CD hostages NNS and CC finish VV off RP the DT Chechens NP turned VVD into IN a DT bloody JJ farce NN . SENT With IN three CD or CC four CD different JJ commands NNS vying VVG with IN each DT other JJ to TO take VV credit NN for IN the DT operation NN , , and CC demoralised VVN troops NNS unwilling JJ to TO lay VV down RP their PP$ lives NNS for IN the DT sake NN of IN their PP$ officers NNS promotions NNS , , the DT operation NN against IN the DT village NN of IN Pervomaiskoye NP , , where WRB the DT Chechens NP had VHD taken VVN refuge NN took VVD several JJ days NNS , , killed VVD dozens NNS of IN hostages NNS , , razed VVN the DT town NN to TO the DT ground NN and CC let VV the DT Chechen NP leader NN Raduyev NP escape NN . SENT The DT leadership's NN attempts VVZ to TO explain VV their PP$ failure NN were VBD so RB half RB witted JJ that IN they PP only JJ re NN emphasised VVD the DT bestiality NN of IN the DT war NN . SENT for IN example NN General NP Barsukov NP , , head NN of IN the DT former JJ KGB NP , , said VVD that IN the DT Chechens NP had VHD managed VVN to TO escape VV because IN they PP had VHD fought VVN barefoot RB in IN the DT snow NN . SENT In IN fact NN impoverished VVN Russian JJ troops NNS had VHD stripped VVN the DT boots NNS from IN Chechen NP corpses NNS before IN Barsukov NP had VHD arrived VVN to TO inspect VV them PP . SENT The DT result NN was VBD a DT massive JJ wave NN of IN revulsion NN against IN the DT war NN . SENT In IN some DT cities NNS this DT turned VVD into IN demonstrations NNS accompanying VVG the DT coffins NNS of IN Russian JJ soldiers NNS . SENT A DT major JJ Moscow NP daily RB devoted VVD its PP$ front JJ page NN to TO calling VVG on IN its PP$ readers NNS to TO write VV to TO Yeltsin NP and CC demand VV an DT end NN to TO the DT fighting NN . SENT In IN the DT Kuzbass NP mining NN region NN people NNS started VVD collecting VVG signatures NNS calling VVG to TO pull VV the DT troops NNS out RP , , and CC in IN Nizhny NP Novgorod NP a DT million CD signatures NNS were VBD collected VVN on IN the DT initiative NN of IN the DT city NN governor NN , , Boris NP Nemtsov NP . SENT Yeltsin NP was VBD forced VVN to TO promise VV an DT end NN to TO the DT war NN . SENT He PP said VVD he PP had VHD seven CD different JJ plans NNS , , and CC that IN the DT troops NNS would MD soon RB be VB withdrawn VVN . SENT But CC these DT statements NNS were VBD followed VVN by IN a DT sharp JJ intensification NN of IN operations NNS by IN the DT Russian JJ army NN and CC airforce NN . SENT In IN February NP Chechen NP towns NNS including VVG Novogroznensky NP , , Sernovodsk NP , , Samashki NP and CC Bamut NP were VBD subjected VVN to TO colossal JJ bombardments NNS . SENT Tens NNS of IN thousands NNS of IN people NNS were VBD made VVN homeless JJ and CC countless JJ others NNS were VBD killed VVN . SENT On IN the DT day NN that IN Yeltsin NP announced VVD his PP$ big JJ peace NN initiative NN , , 31 CD March NP , , 28 CD Russian JJ soldiers NNS died VVD in IN combat NN . SENT A DT few JJ days NNS later RBR the DT town NN of IN Shalazhi NP , , which WDT had VHD just RB signed VVN a DT peace NN accord NN with IN troops NNS , , was VBD bombed VVN from IN the DT air NN . SENT The DT army NN claimed VVD it PP did VVD not RB know VV who WP had VHD done VVN it PP . SENT A DT few JJ days NNS later RBR it PP was VBD bombed VVN again RB . SENT Within IN days NNS it PP was VBD obvious JJ to TO millions NNS that IN Yeltsin's NP peace NN was VBD just RB another DT political JJ bluff NN . SENT Russia NP is VBZ fighting VVG the DT war NN in IN Chechnya NP to TO the DT bitter JJ end NN because IN its PP$ ruling NN class NN is VBZ desperate JJ to TO halt VV the DT succession NN of IN military JJ defeats NNS that WDT began VVD in IN Afghanistan NP and CC led VVD to TO the DT collapse NN of IN the DT Soviet JJ empire NN . SENT Even RB talk NN of IN peace NN is VBZ seen VVN by IN the DT army NN leadership NN as IN betrayal NN . SENT But CC the DT ruling NN class NN is VBZ caught VVN in IN a DT dilemma NN . SENT The DT harder RBR it PP hits VVZ the DT Chechens NP , , the DT deeper JJR and CC more JJR bitter JJ their PP$ resistance NN , , which WDT has VHZ its PP$ roots NNS in IN the DT Caucasus NP wars NNS of IN the DT last JJ century NN and CC the DT deportation NN of IN the DT entire JJ Chechen NP population NN by IN Stalin NP in IN 1944 CD . SENT Russia NP cannot NP win VV the DT war NN , , but CC neither CC can MD it PP afford VV to TO lose VV it PP . SENT So IN the DT bloodshed NN in IN Chechnya NP will MD continue VV well RB past IN the DT presidential JJ elections NNS . SENT Nor CC will MD a DT change NN of IN president NN make VVP any DT difference NN . SENT Gennady NP Zyuganov NP , , the DT Communist JJ leader NN , , is VBZ an DT extreme JJ Russian JJ nationalist NN and CC has VHZ made VVN plain RB his PP$ intention NN for IN the DT troops NNS to TO stay VV , , while IN Grigory NP Yavlinsky NP , , the DT leading JJ liberal JJ candidate NN , , is VBZ using VVG anti JJ war NN rhetoric NN in IN his PP$ campaign NN but CC is VBZ sharing VVG platforms NNS with IN General NP Alexander NP Lebed NP , , a DT supporter NN of IN military JJ rule NN in IN Russia NP and CC a DT fanatical JJ opponent NN of IN peace NN . SENT Only RB when WRB the DT price NN of IN staying VVG in IN Chechnya NP becomes VVZ too RB high JJ in IN terms NNS of IN either DT mass JJ protest NN by IN Russians NPS and CC revolt NN in IN the DT army NN , , or CC a DT decisive JJ victory NN by IN the DT Chechens NP will MD the DT Russian JJ ruling NN class NN end VV this DT war NN . SENT Yeltsin's NP second JJ major JJ initiative NN followed VVD hot JJ on IN the DT heels NNS of IN his PP$ peace NN plan NN . SENT On IN 2 CD April NP , , amid IN great JJ pomp NN and CC ceremony NN , , he PP and CC the DT president NN of IN Belorus NP , , Alexander NP Lukashenka NP , , announced VVD the DT creation NN of IN the DT Union NP of IN Sovereign NP Republics NNS USR NP , , marking VVG the DT beginning NN of IN the DT political JJ and CC economic JJ unification NN of IN the DT two CD countries NNS . SENT Yeltsin NP successfully RB stole VVD the DT thunder NN of IN the DT Communist NP Party NP , , which WDT had VHD won VVN a DT vote NN in IN parliament NN two CD weeks NNS earlier RBR calling VVG for IN a DT resurrection NN of IN the DT USSR NN and CC denouncing VVG the DT 1991 CD agreement NN that WDT established VVD the DT Commonwealth NP of IN Independent NP States NPS . SENT The DT idea NN of IN integration NN with IN former JJ Soviet JJ republics NNS has VHZ tapped VVN into IN the DT soft JJ Russian JJ nationalism NN widespread JJ in IN Russian JJ society NN . SENT To TO most RBS Russians NNS the DT new JJ USR NP the DT name NN was VBD obviously RB chosen VVN to TO be VB as RB close JJ as RB possible JJ to TO its PP$ predecessor NN is VBZ a DT welcome JJ move NN towards IN a DT natural JJ pan VV Slav JJ unity NN disrupted VVN by IN the DT collapse NN of IN empire NN , , a DT counter JJ attack NN to TO NATO's NP plans NNS to TO expand VV into IN eastern JJ Europe NP , , and CC a DT boost NN to TO Russia's JJ prestige NN . SENT Many JJ believe VVP that IN the DT USR NP will MD also RB bring VV economic JJ benefits NNS . SENT But CC the DT unity NN agreement NN is VBZ mainly RB a DT political JJ gesture NN . SENT it PP was VBD signed VVN with IN indecent JJ haste NN , , without IN consultation NN with IN the DT national JJ parliaments NNS let VVP alone RB the DT electorate NN , , and CC with IN few JJ concrete JJ suggestions NNS about IN how WRB to TO overcome VV the DT enormous JJ obstacles NNS to TO its PP$ implementation NN . SENT The DT purported JJ economic JJ gains NNS of IN unity NN are VBP illusory JJ . SENT When WRB two CD capitalist JJ states NNS unite VV this DT can MD only RB mean VV the DT intensification NN of IN competition NN between IN firms NNS in IN each DT country NN , , no DT longer RBR subject JJ to TO protectionist NN tariff NN and CC tax NN policies NNS . SENT weaker JJR firms NNS will MD go VV to TO the DT wall NN and CC unemployment NN will MD rise VV . SENT Companies NNS in IN both DT countries NNS that WDT once RB relied VVD on IN each DT other JJ for IN orders NNS have VHP long RB since RB switched VVN to TO different JJ customers NNS and CC suppliers NNS . SENT A DT glance NN at IN Russia NP is VBZ enough JJ to TO show VV that IN it PP is VBZ the DT chaos NN produced VVN by IN privatisation NN , , increased VVD competition NN with IN the DT west NN and CC the DT lack NN of IN investment NN that WDT are VBP to TO blame VV for IN the DT economic JJ crisis NN , , rather RB than IN simply RB the DT erection NN of IN national JJ boundaries NNS . SENT Of IN far RB greater JJR importance NN is VBZ the DT military JJ side NN of IN the DT new JJ union NN . SENT To TO the DT Russian JJ ruling NN class NN , , Belorus NP has VHZ enormous JJ strategic JJ significance NN . SENT Its PP$ incorporation NN within IN common JJ borders NNS means VVZ an DT end NN to TO uncertainty NN over IN trade NN routes NNS with IN the DT west NN , , easy JJ access NN to TO Russia's JJ enclave NN in IN Kaliningrad NP on IN the DT Baltic JJ coast NN , , and CC an DT end NN to TO Baltic NP Black NP Sea NP integration NN that WDT was VBD threatening VVG to TO create VV a DT buffer NN stretching VVG from IN Ukraine NP to TO Estonia NP . SENT Anti JJ missile NN defences NNS on IN Belorussian JJ territory NN will MD now RB be VB under IN Russian JJ control NN , , while IN Russian JJ troops NNS will MD be VB stationed VVN on IN the DT border NN with IN Poland NP . SENT In IN this DT sense NN the DT USR NP is VBZ a DT continuation NN of IN the DT Kremlin's NP policy NN in IN Chechnya NP by IN diplomatic JJ means NNS . SENT The DT USR NP has VHZ been VBN welcomed VVN in IN Russia NP by IN everyone NN from IN the DT Communists NPS to TO the DT fascists NNS , , but CC in IN Belorus NP it PP has VHZ led VVN to TO mass JJ protests NNS . SENT In IN almost RB no DT other JJ Soviet JJ republic NN was VBD forced VVN Russification NN taken VVN to TO such JJ extremes NNS as IN in IN Belorus NP , , where WRB in IN the DT mid JJ 1930 CD s PP some DT 90 CD percent NN of IN the DT national JJ intelligentsia NN were VBD murdered VVN or CC sent VVN to TO the DT camps NNS . SENT By IN the DT 1980 CD s PP there RB were VBD no DT schools NNS using VVG the DT Belorussian JJ language NN , , even RB though IN 83 CD percent NN of IN the DT population NN claimed VVD it PP as IN their PP$ native JJ tongue NN . SENT The DT legacy NN of IN this DT colonial JJ history NN is VBZ a DT population NN that WDT is VBZ largely RB hostile JJ to TO Russia NP , , but CC also RB containing VVG a DT large JJ element NN of IN the DT middle NN and CC ruling NN classes NNS with IN an DT orientation NN on IN Moscow NP . SENT Lukashenka NP belongs VVZ to TO this DT latter JJ group NN . SENT He PP has VHZ ruled VVN since IN 1994 CD with IN a DT ruthless JJ authoritarianism NN . SENT he PP has VHZ sent VVN police NNS against IN strikes NNS and CC jailed VVN their PP$ leaders NNS , , driven VVN the DT independent JJ press NN out IN of IN the DT country NN , , and CC closed VVD Belorussian JJ language NN schools NNS and CC departments NNS . SENT Last JJ year NN he PP gave VVD an DT interview NN to TO a DT German JJ newspaper NN in IN which WDT he PP praised VVD Adolf NP Hitler NP . SENT We PP spoke VVD to TO a DT young JJ Belorussian JJ activist NN about IN the DT demonstrations NNS in IN Minsk NP , , capital NN of IN Belorus NP . SENT The DT first JJ came VVD on IN 24 CD March NP and CC was VBD led VVN by IN the DT nationalist JJ Belorussian JJ People's NP Front NP BPF NP . SENT It PP drew VVD 30 CD , , 000 CD and CC ended VVN with IN fights NNS with IN the DT police NN . SENT A DT week NN later RBR Lukashenka NP bussed VVN in IN supporters NNS from IN across IN the DT country NN and CC mustered VVD a DT similar JJ number NN in IN favour NN of IN the DT union NN . SENT On IN 2 CD April NP , , however RB , , a DT largely RB spontaneous JJ demonstration NN took VVD place NN . SENT The DT BPF NP tried VVD to TO take VV charge NN of IN it PP , , but CC failed VVD . SENT The DT demo NN was VBD very RB large JJ some DT 30 CD , , 000 CD people NNS again RB but CC made VVD up RP mainly RB of IN young JJ people NNS completely RB new JJ to TO politics NNS . SENT They PP are VBP hostile JJ to TO Lukashenka NP , , because IN they PP see VVP Russian JJ expansion NN as IN a DT threat NN to TO their PP$ freedom NN to TO listen VV to TO western JJ music NN and CC dress NN in IN western JJ clothes NNS , , and CC because IN they PP don't VVD want VV a DT return NN to TO the DT command NN economy NN . SENT The DT demo NN was VBD conscious JJ of IN its PP$ age NN demonstrators NNS chanted VVD , , Youth NN against IN Lukashenka NP . SENT and CC unwilling JJ to TO obey VV the DT BPF NP . SENT Some DT came VVD with IN pockets NNS full JJ of IN stones NNS , , looking VVG for IN a DT fight NN with IN the DT police NN . SENT In IN the DT last JJ six CD years NNS Belorussian JJ workers NNS have VHP developed VVN a DT militant JJ tradition NN , , assisted VVN by IN their PP$ proximity NN to TO Poland NP and CC the DT successful JJ anti JJ imperialist JJ struggle NN against IN the DT USSR NN . SENT Although IN they PP have VHP not RB been VBN involved VVN in IN an DT organised VVN fashion NN in IN the DT recent JJ demonstrations NNS , , we PP must MD hope VV that IN the DT size NN and CC militancy NN of IN the DT protests NNS will MD encourage VV workers NNS to TO take VV up RP the DT fight NN against IN Lukashenka NP and CC the DT USR NP . SENT Their PP$ slogan NN must MD be VB unity NN from IN below RB of IN Russian JJ and CC Belorussian JJ workers NNS , , and CC not RB unity NN from IN above JJ of IN reactionary JJ leaders NNS to TO shore VV up RP their PP$ rule NN . SENT This DT would MD be VB a DT blow NN to TO both DT Russian JJ imperialism NN and CC NATO NP expansionism NN to TO the DT east JJ . SENT Return NN to TO Contents NNS page NN . SENT Return NN to TO Socialist NP Review NP Index NP Home NP page NN