The Russian Duma reconvened Friday to consider Yeltsin's possible impeachment RELATED VIDEO CNN's Mike Hanna reports on impeachment charges against President Yeltsin Windows Media 28K 80K While tempers flare inside the Duma, the Russian media are calling the impeachment debate a soap opera. CNN's Steve Harrigan reports (May 14) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K What does the political turmoil in Russia mean to the search for peace in Yugoslavia and other world issues? CNN's Ralph Begleiter investigates (May 13) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K  ALSO: Yeltsin action complicates Russian political front

May 14, 1999
Web posted at: 10:16 a.m. EDT (1416 GMT)

In this story: 'A declaration of war' RELATED STORIES, SITES

MOSCOW (CNN) -- Lawmakers in Russia's lower house of parliament argued and shouted Friday in their debate over whether to impeach President Boris Yeltsin, after the Kremlin warned that his removal would have dire consequences.

For a second day, lawmakers in the opposition-dominated State Duma blasted each other with passionate speeches. Yeltsin faces five charges of political wrongdoing.

Nationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky, whose party backs Yeltsin, repeatedly lost his temper, saying the president must not be impeached, because NATO's airstrikes against Yugoslavia are also a threat to Russia.

"We have an external enemy. They will destroy us. They're bombing Yugoslavia ... so they can later bomb ... Moscow," he shouted, slamming his fist on the podium.

Communist lawmakers hit back with emotional appeals to oust Yeltsin. Hard-liner Sergei Baburin accused the president of being "interested only in power, not the interests of the people."

Most witnesses expected to take part in the proceeding failed to appear Friday. Pro-impeachment lawmakers had hoped to bolster their case with testimony from prominent political figures. The opposition delegates charged that the government and Kremlin prevented them from appearing. The Kremlin denied the accusation.

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last president of the Soviet Union, was one of those who did not show up. His aide told CNN that Gorbachev received a telegram from the speaker of the Duma saying "we invite you to take part in discussions of charges" against Yeltsin. The note gave no indication that Gorbachev was supposed to be a witness, the aide said, and therefore he did not attend.

Kremlin officials warned Friday that any move to remove Yeltsin could plunge Russia into a crisis.

Impeaching Yeltsin "will seriously aggravate the political situation" and be a declaration of war, a senior Kremlin official was quoted as saying by the ITAR-Tass news agency.

"The president's decisions may be most unexpected," the official said in an apparent warning that the Duma will be dissolved if it backs impeachment.

Thursday's proceedings were surprisingly calm, despite Yeltsin's decision Wednesday to replace Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov with Sergei Stephashin, a close ally.

Yeltsin is accused of contributing to the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, causing "genocide" against the Russian people by impoverishing them, firing on parliament in 1993 during a bloody standoff with Communists and undermining the country's armed forces.

The charge of starting the 1994-1996 war against separatists in Chechnya stands the best chance of passing, opposition leaders predict. The debates are expected to culminate in a vote on Saturday.

If the Duma approves even one of the charges, the long and complicated impeachment procedure will be launched. Russia's two top courts and the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, then consider the case.

Most political analysts say Yeltsin, 68, is unlikely to be ousted before his term ends in June 2000.

But the vote could fuel political tensions ahead of a Duma debate next week on whether to confirm Stepashin as prime minister. Stepashin, until now interior minister and first deputy premier, could face a tough time winning approval.

Moscow Bureau Chief Jill Dougherty and Reuters contributed to this report.

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