And as in the US, these costly tactics will play a large part in determining the outcome of the vote. Yeltsin has taken to pork barrel politics like a tsar to caviar. On the campaign trail, as he throws money at potential supporters, Yeltsin mixes what the New York Times described as the hauteur of incumbency with carefully staged demonstrations of compassion and munificence. Although some of his promises are so much flimflam, others have been, or likely will be implemented. But even without additional expenditures, Russian state revenues were running far below projections as the country faces a crumbling infrastructure, a shredded social safety net, and mounting debts.
Experts describe tax collection in Russia's lawless marketplace as abysmal.
And Western leaders have responded with almost unprecedented generosity. At the same time, he showed support for the current president. Under Boris Yeltsin's leadership, Kohl told journalists, despite all the difficulties, Russia has set out on the road to democracy, rule of law and a market economy. With help from the Japanese and Russian governments, they plan a port development project in Russia's Far East. The aim, said Japanese officials, is to spur Russia's economy and support the Yeltsin administration ahead of the Russian presidential election scheduled for June.