Computer companies have come out as rather unlikely spectators in the stand-off between the Russian Parliament and the Presidential administration this month. At least three suppliers are waiting to deliver paid-for systems and services though it is still very unclear to whom they will deliver them. In recent weeks the Supreme Soviet of the Russia parliament went on a computer buying spree ordering and paying for at least three sizable information technology contracts. Digital Equipment Russia won a contract to undertake a major systems integration project linking several personal computer networks, providing multiple access to databases, installing an electronic mail system at the White House and forging communications links with parliamentary structures in the Russian interior. Hewlett-Packard Moscow has been paid for an order for 100 laser printers, while Russian systems integration firm LVS Systems has an parallel order for 120 Compaq Computer Corp personal computers. Alexander Gromov, general manager at LVS, says the Supreme Soviet approached his company and ordered a network including Unix, NetWare and Oracle all running on Compaq hardware. The deal was for 66MHz 80486 servers, graphics workstations with 1,024 by 768 256-colour high resolution monitors and units with several Gigabytes disk storage space. The deal, which has been fully paid for, also included consultancy and training. The equipment is currently at the LVS warehouse awaiting delivery. The outstanding question is of course is: why didn’t the parliament spend some of its money on a power generator?
