The State Duma (lower house of parliament) is scheduled to proceed with its third reading of the 2000 budget on Monday. Proceedings could be disrupted, however, if two Duma fractions - NDR (Our Home is Russia) and LDPR - continue to boycott the sessions in protest at what they consider an inaccurate count of votes on a decision to seize TV channel ORT's accounts.

This, the third in a total of four readings, will see the Duma examine a large number of amendments introduced by the budget committee, made up of Duma and government representatives.

Each successive reading examines the budget in more detail. This time the Duma will have to vote on some substantial changes to items such as international activities, financing the state apparatus, and servicing state domestic and foreign debt.

The draft budget, as it is now, contains no fixed sum for foreign debt next year. Deputy Finance Minister Tatyana Golikova said that by Monday the government will introduce an amendment allowing up to $10 billion in foreign loans.

The budget is scheduled for a fourth reading on Dec. 3, shortly before the Duma ends its term and breaks for elections. After going to the Duma, the budget will go to the Federal Council (upper house) and, finally, to the president.