Does Russia’s Future Lie in the Stars?

MOSCOW — Astrologers have entered the fray in the presidential election in the Soviet republic of Russia, with some predicting that Boris N. Yeltsin won’t win on the first round and warning that the planets are lined up just as they were before the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.

In a nation where superstition lurks just below the surface and readers devour publications on astrology, flying saucers and poltergeists, even the staid official news agency Tass got into the act four days before Wednesday’s Russian election.

“Horoscopes from Nepal,” reported by Tass, predicted enormous success for the “Aquarian” Yeltsin--whose birthday is Feb. 1--and only “moderate achievement” for his strongest opponent, “the Libra” Nikolai I. Ryzhkov, whose birthday falls on Sept. 28.