The Russian military is gaining influence within Russia as a result of NATO involvement in Kosovo. The crisis is providing a pretext for the military to increase its leverage over politicians and successfully lobby for what it wants. If the Kosovo crisis is short-lived, Russia will return to "politics as usual." The longer the war drags on, however, the greater will be the military's leverage, particularly since Russia is now entering an election season (parliamentary elections will be held in December 1999 and Presidential elections in June 2000). Evidence of the military's increased influence can be seen in a number of areas: the call for a more expansive military doctrine, an unusually high number of military exercises, the placement of more forces abroad, and an increased military budget. […]
