Yeltsin to Stay Under Medical Supervision 🩺

(27 Oct 1995) Eng/Russian/Nat

Doctors treating Russian President Boris Yeltsin say he will remain under close observation for a month following his second heart problem in four months.

Medics say the blood supply to his heart is adequate but remains unstable.

They say, however, there is no sign of heart failure.

A summit Yeltsin planned with Balkan leaders in Moscow next Tuesday has been postponed and a trip to China in November called off.

This latest illness has revived doubts about whether the President is healthy enough to rule Russia.

After a quiet night at Moscow's Central Clinical Hospital, President Yeltsin had more tests to determine the extent of his heart trouble.

Doctors say he will have to stay under close observation for at least a month.

The 64 year old leader was flown by helicopter to the hospital Thursday after complaining of chest pains.

Security around the President is tight. He is being visited only by his doctors, guards and family.

At a press conference, Yeltsin's chief spokesman said the President would be away from office for some time.

SOUNDBITE:Russian

After consultations with all the doctors, the President's physician
Mironov said that the President would be under constant observation until the end of November.
SUPER CAPTION: Sergei Medvedev, Chief Presidential Spokesman

This latest bout of illness has renewed debate over whether the President is fit enough to rule.

His attack comes just two months before parliamentary elections - polls seen as a litmus test for presidential elections scheduled for June.

Yeltsin has not yet decided whether he will run for re-election for the top job at the Kremlin.

Medvedev claims Yeltsin's opponents are exploiting his illness to write him off as a candidate.

SOUNDBITE: Russian
Everybody who counts themselves as opponents of President Yeltsin are grabbing their anti-Presidential positions.

SUPER CAPTION:Sergei Medvedev, Yeltsin's press secretary.

Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov and one of the main challengers for the Russian Presidency says it's time for Yeltsin to be treated or retire from office.

SOUNDBITE:

For a long time we have called for a medical commission to be set up in this country which would study the health of the leadership and make their conclusions as to whether he should undergo treatment or simply go into retirement.
SUPER CAPTION:Gennady Zyuganov,Communist Party leader

The news of Yeltsin's illness came as little surprise to the people on the streets of Moscow.

The President's popularity is low. The public is suffering from economic reforms. There've been only a few words of sympathy for their leader.

SOUNDBITE:

I personally feel very sorry for him. He was under such pressure during his visit. But he's a real man, a Siberian man.
SUPER CAPTION: Vox-pop

SOUNDBITE:

Let him be ill-he should start drinking less.
SUPER CAPTION:Vox-pop

Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev dismissed Yeltsin's condition as 'not much of a problem' .

But a scheduled meeting of Balkan leaders in Moscow on Tuesday has been postponed and a trip to China called off.

SOUNDBITE:

Of course I think we will have to postpone the major event which was supposed to be a visit by the President to China. Of course this is regretful but again the package of agreements is already almost complete so we can have it at an opportune time later so there is no damage.
SUPER CAPTION:Andrei Kozyrev, Russia's Foreign Minister


SOUNDBITE:

SUPER CAPTION:James Wolfensohn, President World Bank.



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