Russia in 1997  Area: 17,075,400 sq km (6,592,800 sq mi)
Population (1997 est.): 147,231,000  Capital: Moscow  Chief of
state: President Boris Yeltsin  Head of government: Prime
Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin  Domestic Affairs  Pres. Boris
Yeltsin bounded back into the political fray in March 1997 after
eight months’ absence caused by sickness. His first action was
to reshuffle the Cabinet to include new ministers with strong
reform credentials. Anatoly Chubais, Russia’s most determined
reformer, was appointed first deputy prime minister and finance
minister. Boris Nemtsov, one of Russia’s youngest and most
popular regional leaders, was appointed first deputy prime
minister alongside Chubais. Together, the "young reformers"
announced plans to overhaul taxation, housing, and welfare;
restore central control over headstrong regional leaders; and
curb the power of Russia’s monopolies (natural gas, electricity,
and railways). Stock markets and foreign investors were
jubilant, confident that Russia was beginning a