Soviet vote Wednesday in the first democratic elections for the presidency of the Russian Republic and the mayors of various cities. On Monday , an estimated 30,000 people marched in support for the front runner for president, Nikolaj Ryzhkov . ; Just before the first of the negative articles appeared, Yeltsin's aides privately charged that Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev personally had ordered a KGB smear against Yeltsin. The campaign has turned dirty with newspaper allegations that Yeltsin is emotionally unstable. Yeltsin 's aides have charged that Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev personally ordered a KBG smear. This indicates that rapprochement between Yeltsin and Gorbachev is only skin deep and also indicates growing desperation by Russians leaders. Failure to win an absolute majority will force a runoff with Yeltsin 's main opponent, former Soviet Prime Minister Nikolaj Ryzhkov .
Soviet vote Wednesday in the first democratic elections for the presidency of the Russian Republic and the mayors of various cities. On Monday , an estimated 30,000 people marched in support for the front runner for president, Nikolaj Ryzhkov . The campaign has turned dirty with newspaper allegations that Yeltsin is emotionally unstable. Yeltsin 's aides have charged that Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev personally ordered a KBG smear. This indicates that rapprochement between Yeltsin and Gorbachev is only skin deep and also indicates growing desperation by Russians leaders. Failure to win an absolute majority will force a runoff with Yeltsin 's main opponent, former Soviet Prime Minister Nikolaj Ryzhkov .