-Caveat Lector- New Russian Scandal Targets Yeltsin By GREG MYRE .c The Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) -- Secret sex videos. Hints of Kremlin corruption. Money laundering allegations. A presidential impeachment debate. Russia is once again ensnarled in a messy political soap opera, and this time Boris Yeltsin's weakened administration is battling on several fronts to preserve the president's eroding authority from an emboldened group of rivals. Most of the allegations involve high-level corruption, which has bedeviled Russian efforts to build a democracy and a market economy. The media reports it, parliament debates it, and ordinary citizens curse it. But few are ever punished, producing a deep cynicism toward the political and business elite. Will there be a different outcome this time? ``Russia has had a lot of political scandals that haven't amounted to much, but I think the outcome could be different this time,'' said political analyst Viktor Kremenyuk. ``The days of Mr. Yeltsin are numbered, and this time his troubles might evolve into something that could end his rule.'' Yeltsin slapped down such threats in the past, but now, with his fragile health and barely a year left in his term, his opponents believe they have enough ammunition to attack the president head-on. The president has not been accused of corruption, but he does face an April 15 impeachment debate in the Communist-led parliament. Yeltsin is favored to win this fight, though it's likely to chip away at his stature, already diminished by his frequent illnesses and long absences from the Kremlin. Yeltsin is used to such confrontations with the Communists. But the man who makes his blood boil these days is Prosecutor General Yuri Skuratov. Skuratov offered to resign back in February and seemed headed for political oblivion until he began leveling a series of potentially explosive allegations. Skuratov, who has been investigating possible bribe-taking in the Kremlin, announced that Russia's Central Bank hid billions of dollars in an obscure account on Britain's Channel Islands. And this past week his office ordered the arrest of two leading business tycoons, Boris Berezovsky and Alexander Smolensky, both closely linked to the Kremlin. ``Skuratov has compiled enough evidence to cause a lot of trouble,'' said Kremenyuk. Yeltsin has sought to oust Skuratov, but the clumsy efforts have only highlighted the president's weakness and heightened suspicions the Kremlin is trying to cover up wrongdoing. When state television aired a video that appeared to star Skuratov having sex with two women, few expected the film to boost Skuratov's standing. But that's exactly what happened. The move was seen as a crude, ham-handed attempt to drive him from office, with the orders presumably coming from the upper ranks of the government. Yeltsin has suspended Skuratov, but only parliament can dismiss him. Last month, lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to keep him on the job. They are expected to take up the question again on April 21, and if they reinstate him once more -- the most likely scenario -- it will be another blow to the president. ``Everyone knew how powerful Yeltsin was in the past, and very few dared to take him on,'' said Ivan Safrantchouk, a political analyst at the Center for Policy Studies. ``Now people know he is vulnerable and they are willing to test the limits.'' The two business leaders, Berezovsky and Smolensky, whose fortunes were built through close Kremlin contacts, also find their positions imperiled. The brash Berezovsky previously boasted of his access to Yeltsin's family. Now he appears abandoned, fair game for his many enemies. Though he has a sprawling business empire to manage, Berezovsky sought Kremlin access through low-paying government posts. Yeltsin hired and fired him twice in the past two years, most recently in March, and now apparently sees the controversial Berezovsky as a liability. Berezovsky says the charges against him are part of a political vendetta, but acknowledges that he can't expect much help from the president. ``At the moment, President Yeltsin is losing power and the opposition is gaining ground,'' Berezovsky said in Paris. Berezovsky said he plans to return to Russia to fight the charges that he was behind the illegal transfer of $250 million from Russia's largest airline, Aeroflot, to the Swiss company Andava. Smolensky is also abroad, recovering from an illness in Austria. ``The hunting season is on for the oligarchs,'' said Kremenyuk, the analyst. ``The country has tremendous economic problems and they are obvious targets.'' The business elite did not use their fortunes to invest in Russia and restructure the economy, ``they just pumped their money abroad, and as a result, people see them as the enemy,'' Kremenyuk added. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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