UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 5
ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

[ ] Check box if no longer subject to Section 16.
    Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue.

[ ] Form 3 Holdings Reported

[ ] Form 4 Transactions Reported

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person(s)
   Johnson, Charles B.
   777 Mariners Island Boulevard


   San Mateo, CA  94404
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
   Templeton Russia Fund, Inc. (TRF)
3. I.R.S. Identification Number of Reporting Person, if an entity (Voluntary)

4. Statement for Month/Year
   03/99
5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Year)
6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)
   [X] Director                   [ ] 10% Owner
   [X] Officer (give title below) [X] Other (specify below)
   VP & Director of Issuer;
   10% owner of parent affiliate
7. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
   [X] Form filed by One Reporting Person
   [ ] Form filed by More than One Reporting Person



Table I   Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
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1)Title of Security                           2)Trans-    3.Trans- 4.Securities Acquired(A)      5)Amount of    6)  7)Nature of
                                              action      action   or Disposed of (D)            Securities         Indirect
                                              Date        Code                   A               Beneficially   D   Beneficial
                                              (Month/                            or              Owned at       or  Ownership
                                              Day/Year)   Code     Amount        D  Price        End of Year    I
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Common Stock                                  02/22/99    P 5      1,054.000     A  $10.813      1,445.000      I  by Corporation


Table II (PART 1)  Derivative Securitites Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned  (Columns 1 through 6)
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1)Title of Derivative          2)Conversion    3)Trans-       4)Trans-  5)Number of Derivative            6)Date Exercisable and
Security                       or Exercise     action         action    Securities Acquired (A)           Expiration Date
                               Price of        Date           Code      or Disposed of (D)
                               Derivative
                               Security                       Code      A                D                Exercisable  Expiration
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Table II (PART 2)  Derivative Securitites Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned  (Columns 1,3 and 7 through 11)
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1)Title of Derivative          3)Trans-  7)Title and Amount                           8)Price     9)Number of   10) 11)Nature of
Security                       action    of Underlying                                of Deri-    Derivative        Indirect
                               Date      Securities                                   vative      Securities    D   Beneficial
                                                                        Amount or     Security    Beneficially  or  Ownership
                                                                        Number of                 Owned at      I
                  -                      Title                          Shares                    End of Year
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Explanation of Responses:

- -
Shares were acquired by Templeton Asset Management, Ltd. ("TAML") and are being reported due to Mr, Johnson's ownership of in excess
 of 10% of the shares of Franklin Resources, Inc., TAML's parent corporation and as an officer and director of Templeton Russia Fund
 .  Mr. Johnson disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.




SIGNATURE OF REPORTING PERSON
/S/ Johnson, Charles B.
DATE