MOSCOW : Yeltsin’s Dilemma

The next move in Russia’s political crisis belongs to President Boris N. Yeltsin, who retreated to his dacha after the Congress of People’s Deputies voted last week to diminish his power and outlaw his proposed referendum.

Presidential spokesman Vyacheslav Kostikov said Monday that Yeltsin “is examining the scale of political damage inflicted on the constitutional order . . . by the Congress” and will reveal his next step “in the next few days.”

Among Yeltsin’s options: declare the Congress’ decision unconstitutional and try to hold a referendum anyway, organize a non-binding plebiscite or close the Congress and rule by decree.