What the Papers Say, Apr. 10, 2013

Kommersant

1. Viktor Khamrayev et al. report headlined "Sergei Stepashin leaves accounts" says that former Health Minister Tatyana Golikova may replace Sergei Stepashin as the Audit Chamber head; pp 1-2 (775 words).
2. Grigory Tumanov et al. report headlined "Observers being stripped of Golos" says that the Golos NGO involved in monitoring elections risks being closed as part of the Russian authorities campaign against NGOs. Article says the Justice Ministry has opened an administrative case against the organization claiming that the Sakharov prize it has been awarded was financed from abroad; pp 1-2 (741 words).
3. Oleg Rubnikovich and Vladislav Novy article headlined "Embezzler found in Leonid Reiman's company" says that deputy general director of the Angstrem group Alexei Tabolkin and former finance director Nikolai Pereverzev have been arrested on embezzlement charges; pp 1, 4 (618 words).Maxim Maxim
4. Yevgeny Timoshinov article headlined "Carriages stop at request" says that Russian Railways has stopped using around 10 percent of its carriages due to security concerns. The move may result in transportation problems; pp 1, 9 (665 words).
5. Maxim Ivanov article headlined "Elections commissions to be allowed to turn blind eye to violations" says the Russian Central Elections Commission has finally developed a method to use the video recorded by web cameras at polling stations. Heads of electoral commissions can ignore recorded violations if no complaints were made about them; p 2 (615 words).
6. Taisia Bekbulatova and Maxim Ivanov article headlined "They wait for Dmitry Medvedev to come seriously and for long time" says Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is to make a report on the work of his Cabinet in the State Duma on 17 April; p 2 (545 words).
7. Sofia Samokhina article headlined "Laws brought to senses" says the State Duma has passed in the first reading a bill to protect religious feelings of people, which envisages imprisonment for up to five years; p 3 (563 words).
8. Vadim Visloguzov article headlined "Elvira Nabiullina gains foothold in State Duma" says the State Duma has approved the appointment of Elvira Nabiullina as the Central Bank head; p 6 (595 words).
9. Kirill Belyaninov article headlined "START transferred to summer time" says that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said that the START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) signed by the U.S. and Russia three years ago is working well and could serve as a basis for further nuclear arms reduction. Meanwhile, U.S. experts are less optimistic over the results of the treaty because only 203 warheads have been scrapped; p 8 (549 words).
10. Article by British Foreign Minister William Hague headlined "I hope that most important agreement will be reached in London" outlines the agenda for the meeting of G8 foreign ministers in London and expresses hope that the countries will be able to come to agreement on important international issues such as Syria, Iran and cyber security; p 8 (654 words).
11. Yelena Chernenko et al. report headlined "Summit stocks up on water and arms" says Russia and Uzbekistan will focus on hydroenergy and military-technical cooperation during the Uzbek president's visit to Moscow; p 8 (744 words).
12. Maria Yefimova brief report "Syrian opposition to be made subordinate to General Staff" says that the merger of all armed opposition groups has begun in Syria; p 8 (150 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Alexandra Samarina article headlined "Government being attacked from left flank" says Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov is expected to demand the dissolution of Dmitry Medvedev's cabinet. Any results of the move will help the opposition party ahead of the regional elections in autumn; pp 1, 3 (732 words).
2. Alexandra Samarina article headlined "Customs offered to hand in goods" reports on searches at Moscow's customs as part of the probe into embezzlement of 25 million rubles ($806,000); pp 1, 3 (707 words).
3. Anastasia Bashkatova article headlined "Car market prepares unpleasant surprise for prime minister" says that another suggestion that Russian officials should use domestic vehicles has been made in an attempt to support Russian car manufacturers; pp 1, 4 (963 words).
4. Alexei Gorbachev article headlined "Parliamentary opposition advised to keep silent" reports on a State Duma campaign against opposition lawmakers Dmitry Gudkov and Ilya Ponomaryov pp 1, 3 (451 words).
5. Viktoria Panfilova article headlined "Bishkek sells Kyrgyzgaz to Moscow for dollar" says Bishkek is expected to sell the Kyrgyzgaz energy company to Russia's Gazprom to resolve energy problems; pp 1, 7 (709 words).
6. Yury Paniyev article headlined "Austria does not give in banking secret" says that Austria remains one of the few EU countries opposing the new tax reforms that oblige banks to disclose information on their depositors; pp 1, 8 (641 words).
7. Editorial headlined "Billionaires from NGOs" looks at the current conflict between the Russian authorities and NGOs and calls on rights activists to continue working; p 2 (519 words).
8. Ivan Rodin article headlined "Magnitsky list: Short or extended one" says that domestic policy disagreements in the USA may affect a number of Russian top officials as some congressmen want President Barack Obama to sign and make public a long list of Russian officials and law enforcers; p 2 (449 words).
9. Sergei Kiselev article headlined "Semi-decay period" outlines Russia's nuclear energy project Proryv (breakthrough) and notes that the costly project may end up abandoned as the official responsible for the project, Yevgeny Adamov, is involved in a scandal; p 6 (1,253 words).
10. Darya Tsilyurik article headlined "Bashar al-Asad afraid of Saddam Hussein's destiny" says Syria has not allowed the UN to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons in the country because Damascus is afraid that the Iraqi scenario may be implemented in Syria; p 8 (751 words).

Vedomosti

1. Vitaly Petlevoy and Tatyana Voronova article headlined "Baosteel bargains for Mechel-mining" says that China's Baosteel Group is willing to buy a blocking stake in Mechel-mining; pp 1, 12 (476 words).
2. Anastasia Kornya and Liliya Biryukova article headlined "Agent's prize" says the Russian Justice Ministry has called the Golos NGO a foreign agent over the Sakharov prize awarded to the organization, which it refused to accept; pp 1-2 (684 words).

3. Editorial headlined "Orthodoxy and readiness for work and defense" looks at the Kremlin's new approach to Russian history and assumes that the authorities would have to resort to repression to make the majority of people believe in their myths; pp 1, 6 (351 words).

4. Another editorial headlined "Ministry of liquidation" says a number of NGOs are facing liquidation as the Justice Ministry is hurrying to fulfil the new instruction by the Kremlin; p 6 (373 words).

5. Olga Kuvshinova article headlined "Figure of week: 3-4 percent" reports on the speech on the Russian Central Bank's plans by its new head Elvira Nabiullina; p 6 (418 words).

6. Lilia BiryBritishova report "Only salary remains" says that in 2012, the main income of rich Just Russia lawmakers is their salaries; p 2 (750 words).

7. Olga Plotonova report "Nabiullina breaks Central Bank" looks at newly appointed head of Central Bank Elvira Nabiullina's speech at the State Duma; p 4 (800 words).
8. Sergei Karaganov report "Return of geopolitics" looks at the role of geopolitics and says that increasing rivalry between the U.S. and China is boosting Russia's international influence; pp 6-7 (2,600 words).

Izvestia

1. Ivan Cheberko article headlined "Defense Ministry to spend 70Bln rubles on spy satellites" says the Lavochkin NPO research and production bureau has won the Defense Ministry's tender to build five spy satellites; pp 1, 4 (600 words).
2. Anna Lyalyakina article headlined "Nikita Mikhalkov defeats WTO" looks at possible changes to the copyright system in Russia caused by the country's accession to the WTO; pp 1, 4 (750 words).
3. Unattributed interview headlined "They passed me off as minister Serdyukov's nephew" with Dmitry Mityayev, former top manager from the Mira company involved in the Defense Ministry corruption scandal, speaking on his view on the case; pp 1, 4 (1,800 words).
4. Denis Telmanov and Alexei Mikhaylov article headlined "First wheeled tank to be shown in autumn" says that Russia's first wheeled armored vehicle is to be displayed at the Nizhniy Tagil arms show in autumn; pp 1, 3 (650 words).
5. Svetlana Basharova and Anna Semenova article headlined "Cossacks to recruit participants in Seliger camp" says that Moscow Cossacks will take part in the Seliger-2013 summer camp held for pro-Kremlin youth; pp 1, 4 (550 words).
6. Konstantin Volkov report "Russia to supply arms to Uganda with VTB's money" says that the bank VTB intends to give a loan to Uganda to buy Russian weapons; pp 1, 3 (900 words).
7. Vladimir Zykov report "Volunteers and experts to find foul language in mass media" says that the Russian Federal Service for Supervision in Telecommunications, Information Technology and Mass Communications will monitor mass media outlets to insure they do not use foul language; pp 1, 5 (600 words).
8. Yulia Tsoi report "All State Duma's factions against Dmitry Livanov" looks at the parliament's criticism of the education minister; p 2 (1,200 words).
9. Anastasia Kashevarova interview with Just Russia lawmaker Valery Gartung who comments on the Kremlin's course aimed at nationalization of elites; p 2 (1,100 words).
10. Alexei Mikhaylov report "Defense Ministry orders thermal surveillance devices to trace satellites and meteorites" looks at the Defesce Ministry's new order; p 3 (600 words).
11. Yury Matsarskiy report "Fate of Milosevic and Hussein in store for Al-Asad" looks at the situation in Syria; p 7 (900 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Tatyana Panina interview headlined "Starting point" with Russian Audit Chamber head Sergei Stepashin speaking on the new law regulating the work of the chamber; pp 1, 4 (1,600 words).
2. Yury Gavrilov article headlined "Form up line in accordance with contract!" reviews requirements to young people willing to do contract military service in the Russian armed forces; p 2 (460 words).
3. Kira Latukhina report "To see and hear" looks at President Vladimir Putin's visit to the Netherlands; p 2 (900 words).
4. Mikhail Falaleyev report "Generals replaced" looks at the reshuffle in the Interior Ministry; p 2 (400 words).
5. Alexei Chesnakov article headlined "About political principles" praises late Margaret Thatcher for her adherence to the principles she believed in; p 3 (458 words).
6. Nikolai Zlobin report "Contradictions of democracy" looks at Russia's political system and says that consolidation of political elite is the basis of success; p 3 (800 words).
7. Ivan Yegorov interview with First Deputy Prosecutor General Alexander BBritishsman; p 6 (2,500 words).
8. Olga Dmitryeva article headlined "They cry and drink champagne" speaks on different views on Margaret Thatcher's legacy in the British and abroad; p 8 (1,010 words).
9. Oleg Kiryanov article headlined "H-hour of Juche country" says that North Korea may launch its missiles today as tension is aggravating on the Korean Peninsula; p 8 (608 words).
10. Fyodor Lukyanov report "Brotherhood and calculation" looks at Russian-Serbian relations; p 8 (900 words).
11. Article by State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin headlined "Constitution as idea" looks at the role of United Russia; p 12 (4,900 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Olga Bozhyeva article headlined "Happy MiG returns" looks at the possibility of manufacturing fifth-generation MiG fighters in Russia; pp 1, 5 (466 words).
2. Natalya Rozhkova article headlined "Russian Harmony goes wrong" says the Russian Justice Ministry has not registered the Russian Harmony movement set up by the Communists as an alternative to Putin's All-Russia People's Front; pp 1-2 (505 words).
3. Yulia Kalinina article headlined "Either good or nothing about children" comments on the bill signed by Putin that prohibits making public information on the children, who have suffered from violence. The author notes that the bill will help people, who commit crimes against children, conceal their crimes; pp 1-2 (550 words).
4. Matvei Ganapolskiy article headlined "Iron Lady who will never go rusty" looks at the policy of late Margaret Thatcher and notes that some of her ideas are still very topical; p 3 (1,040 words).
5. Andrei Yashlavsky report "Nine facts from Margaret Thatcher's life" looks at late Margaret Thatcher; p 3 (850 words).
6. Unattributed interview with Economic Development Minister Andrei Belousov; p 4 (3,100 words).

Novaya Gazeta

1. Irek Murtazin interview with Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny speaking on his forthcoming trial in Kirov; p 2 (1,000 words).
2. Olga Romanova article headlined "Difficult to be citizen. Much easier to be jerk" comments on an upcoming trial against Alexei Navalny, charged with theft of timber in the Kirov region worth 16 million rubles ($509,000); p 3 (600 words).
3. Article by opposition politician Vladimir Milov headlined "Batka's offshore company" comments on reports saying the Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has lost $ 3 billion in the Cypriot financial crisis; p 4 (400 words).
4. Andrei Kolesnikov and Andrei Lipsky interview with Polish ambassador to Russia Wojciech Zajaczkowski speaking on Russian-Polish relations; pp 12-13 (1,533 words).
5. Article by Mikhail Gorbachev headlined "Margaret Thatcher was great politician and bright personality" speaks on late Margaret Thatcher whom he knew personally; pp 7-8 (530 words).

RBK Daily

1. Alexander Litoi article headlined "Phantom of award" speculates that the Russian Justice Ministry may have launched a case against the NGO Golos for being awarded the Sakharov Freedom Award in 2012; p 2 (400 words).

Noviye Izvestia

1. Yulia Zabavina and Olga Churakova article headlined "Cypriot precedent" says that the Cypriot bailout scenario has questioned the basic principles of the modern economy; pp 1-3 (1,400 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda

1. Darya Aslamova article headlined "Why making Ukraine anti-Russian project" speaks on Ukraine's relations with the EU and Russia; pp 12-13 (2,800 words).
2. Alexander Khodyakin article headlined "Pyongyang drives foreigners out of Seoul" speculates on a possible threat of a nuclear war; p 4 (300 words).
3. Alexander Khodyakin article headlined "Iron Lady's passing: Tragedy or … holiday?" speaks on controversial reaction to the former British prime minister's death in Britain; p 5 (200 words)

Krasnaya Zvezda

1. Vladimir Levchuk interview with Northern Fleet Commander Admiral Vladimir Korolev speaking on the state and prospects of the Russian Northern Fleet; p 2 (1,300 words).

Trud

1. Alexander Protsenko article headlined "They say you are straight A student" comments on Elvira Nabiullina's approval as new head of the Central Bank; pp 1-2 (500 words).
2. Vitaly Golovachev interview with head of the Rocket and Space Corporation Energia Vitaly Lopota speaking on prospects of the Russian space industry; pp 1, 3 (1,900 words).

Apr. 10, 2013/BBC Monitoring/©BBC

Related articles:

• What the Papers Say, Apr. 9, 2012
• What the Papers Say, Apr. 8, 2012
• What the Papers Say, Apr. 5, 2012