Russia Reacts to Yeltsin's Health Update 🇷🇺

(11 Dec 1997) T/I: 10:23:45


Russian President Boris Yeltsin is still in a sanatarium outside Moscow. He checked in on Wednesday (10/11) with what officials say is an acute flu.
A statement from the Kremlin said Thursday (11/12) that Yeltsin is experiencing discomfort and doctors advised him to cancel his weekly radio address to the nation.
The cancellation has fuelled rumours in the American press that the Russian president has suffered yet another heart attack. His opponents are also taking advantage of Yeltsin's illness. Gennady Zyuganov, the Communist party leader blasted the president, saying that it was clear that he is clearly not healthy enough to handle his job.

SHOWS:

MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 11/12
w/s Duma from Moscow street;
Duma entrance
set-up Duma Deputy Alexei Arbatov
SOT Arbatov in in English, Liberal Duma Deputy, "All this panic which has now stirred up around this event is an inertia from Soviet days, when a leader fell ill everyone immediately got concerned what would happen with the state and so on. Now Russia has democratic procedures in case President Yeltsin has to stay for a longer time everything will continue working.
deputies in Duma corridor
SOT in Russian, Victor Ilyukin, Communist Deputy, "Regarding the health of the President, I am not so concerned with his physical health but his mental health his ability to make decisions and run the country. It is clear that he is not in any condition to make real decisions. This to me is the most dangerous thing for Russia."
newspaper kiosks on street
woman reads newspaper
SOTs in Russian man and woman commenting on Russian leader's illness
w/s kiosk

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