What the Papers Say, Feb. 4

Kommersant

1. Sergei Mashkin et al. report headlined "School controlling" says a teenage boy armed with his father's guns has opened fire at his school in Moscow, killing a teacher and a policeman. Another policeman was wounded. The authors note that Russian schools lack security measures so there is no way to prevent similar tragedies in the future; pp 1, 5 (1,437 words).

2. Ksenia Dementiyeva article headlined "December does not believe in loan" says the growth of consumer loans was a record low in Russia in 2013; even December sales at home appliances shops did not improve the situation; pp 1, 7 (590 words).

3. Maxim Ivanov et al. report headlined "Open Government closed for immigrants" says economists Sergei Guriev and Sergei Alekashenko have been excluded from the government commission for coordinating the Open Government project. Both experts have moved abroad; p 2 (570 words).

4. Anna Pushkarskaya article headlined "Barack Obama's foreign agent found in St. Petersburg" says a St. Petersburg nongovernmental organization, Institute of Development of Freedom and Information, has been accused of violating the law regulating NGOs work and was labelled as a "foreign agent". The author attributes the problems of the NGO to its founder Ivan Pavlov's meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama during the Group of 20 summit; p 3 (549 words).

5. Yelena Chernenko article headlined "U.S. invites Russia to Geneva 2.5" says that Washington has suggested that a new international conference on Syria should be held. The Syrian opposition's sponsors, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, as well as Damascus's ally, Iran, should be invited, article says; p 6 (615 words).

6. Pavel Tarasenko article headlined "They are ready to donate money for Ukrainian reforms" says the EU and the U.S. are developing a plan to provide Ukraine with financial support if the country starts carrying out economic and political reforms; p 6 (659 words).

7. Sergei Monastyrsky and Vladimir Solovyev article headlined "Gagauzia votes for Customs Union" says Moldova's Gagauzia region has voted for joining the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan at a referendum held there. Experts believe the results of the referendum show that the European integration process launched by Chisinau will have many obstacles; p 6 (558 words).

8. Yury Barsukov report "Petrol floats on sinking ruble" says that petrol prices are rising again in Russia; p 9 (500 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Tatyana Ivzhenko and Yury Roks article headlined says "Gunboat diplomacy" says two U.S. Navy ships have entered Ukrainian territorial waters reportedly to signal to President Viktor Yanukovych not to follow Moscow's advice. He is expected to make a large number of concessions that, in fact, will lead to him losing power, article says; pp 1, 6 (1,580 words).

2. Alexandra Samarina article headlined "Nonchildish story" says experts attribute the Moscow school shooting on Feb. 3 to a hike in aggression in Russian society and notes that an increasing number of teachers come under attacks of their students nowadays; pp 1, 3 (1,351 words).

3. Ivan Rodin article headlined "Filter prescribed to new parties" says the State Duma wants to impose strict limitations on the participation of new political parties in parliamentary elections in Russia; pp 1, 3 (964 words).

4. Vladimir Mukhin article headlined "Contract-based military service to be in greater demand" comments on the Defense Ministry's plans to hire more professional servicemen; pp 1, 5 (954 words).

5. Svetlana Gamova article headlined "Gagauz autonomy against Republic of Moldova" says the Gagauz Autonomy in Moldova is going to complain to the European Court of Human Rights against Chisinau that does not allow them to hold a referendum on the integration with the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan; pp 1, 6 (674 words).

6. Svetlana Gavrilina article headlined "International brigades in St. Petersburg style" says the St. Petersburg city authorities are going to form groups of volunteers to maintain public order and to invite North Caucasus nationals to participate in them; pp 1, 5 (524 words).

7. Editorial headlined "Authorities return opposition into system" comments on the Kremlin's decision to train representatives of opposition parties to make them part of the country's political system. The Kremlin is trying to take control over political processes in the country, the article notes; p 2 (503 words).

8. Vladimir Skosyrev article headlined "Tragic start of election race in Afghanistan " comments on the presidential election campaign in Afghanistan and says that more than 10 candidates are willing to take part in the election. Security is going to be the main issue during the voting; p 7 (498 words).

9. Yevgenya Novikova article headlined "Iran provokes investment boom" says companies from the EU, China, Japan and Russia are getting ready for the cancellation of economic sanctions against Iran and plan to make investment in the country; p 7 (600 words).

10. Yekaterina Trifonova report "'Terrorists' punished with ruble" says that the Federal Financial Monitoring Service, or Rosfinmonitoring, has published a list of people suspected of terrorism and extremism. In fact, those who were convicted for ordinary articles published in mass media and social networks, have been blacklisted, report says; p 2 (850 words).

11. Maria Bondarenko report "Cossacks are gathered into fist" says that Cossack chiefs intend to fight against extremists from the North Caucasus; p 5 (450 words).

Vedomosti

1. Maxim Tovkaylo and Milana Chelpanova article headlined "Russian Railways to pay 10 billion rubles for Olympic housing" says the Russian government may punish the Russian Railways company for its failure to build housing for Olympics service personnel and demand that the company return 10.4 billion rubles (about $297 million); pp 1, 12 (650 words).

2. Maria Zheleznova article headlined "Blocking year" says the blocking of websites without court rulings and repressive measures against providers affected the freedom of speech in the internet in Russia in 2013. The trend is expected to continue in 2014; pp 1, 3 (900 words).

3. Editorial headlined "Cancellation of sense" slams the Russian authorities over their way to respond to problems by putting civil society under pressure; pp 1, 6 (550 words).

4. Another editorial headlined "Family values" calls on the Russian authorities to develop a well-thought-out demographic policy; p 6 (500 words).

5. Lilia Biryukova report "Filters from top to bottom" says that following restrictions in relation to political parties' access to State Duma elections, the same scheme may appear in regional parliamentary elections; p 2 (950 words).

6. Polina Khimshiashvili report "Tycoons and Maidan" says that only one Ukrainian tycoon has openly supported the opposition. Others keep neutrality, pushing the conflicting parties to a compromise; p 2 (600 words).

7. Alexei Nikolsky report "They begin to reform cosmos" says that the government has begun to set up a state space company that will include designers of combat missiles; p 3 (500 words).

Izvestia

1. Alexandra Bayazitova article headlined "Three large banks get under Central Bank's special surveillance" says the Central Bank is stepping up control over Gazprombank, Promsvyazbank and Raiffeisen Bank pp 1, 4 (700 words).

2. Ivan Cheberko article headlined "Gonets to be left on orbit" says the Transportation Ministry will use the satellite communications system Gonets that until recently was considered to be ineffective; pp 1, 3 (605 words).

3. Svetlana Subbotina article headlined "A Just Russia unites nonparliamentary opposition" says A Just Russia is going to hold a forum for all opposition forces to discuss their strategy in the Moscow City Duma election to held in autumn; pp 1, 3 (478 words).

4. Dmitry Yevstifeyev article headlined "Interior Ministry suggests that private security agencies should be allowed to search people" says that after the Moscow school shooting, the Interior Ministry wants the State Duma to consider the possibility to allow private security agencies to examine suspicious individuals like the police do; pp 1, 7 (732 words).

5. Taras Podrez interview with former State Duma member Gennady Gudkov, having a 20-year experience in securities services business, who comments on the Moscow school shooting; p 7 (763 words).

6. Daria Tsoi article headlined "Tehran wants to restore ties with Ryadh" says the Iranian foreign minister has expressed readiness to develop ties with Saudi Arabia as both countries have similar interests in the region; p 8 (534 words).

7. Natalia Bashlykova report "Twelve parties to able to stand in elections without gathering signatures" says that of 75 political parties registered by the Justice Ministry, only 12 parties will be able to stand in the State Duma election without having to gather signatures; p 2 (1,100 words).

8. Vladimir Zykov report "Roskomnadzor to train prosecutors to fight against extremism" says that the Federal Service for Supervision in Telecommunications, Information Technology and Mass Communications, or Roskomnadzor, and the Prosecutor General's Office will hold a joint training session to teach the staff of the prosecutor's office to block extremist websites; p 4 (800 words).

9. Yelena Malay report "Ban Ki-moon to become honorary torch carrier" says that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will be one of those who will carry the Olympic torch in Sochi; p 5 (600 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Mikhail Falaleyev and article headlined "Lesson 10A" gives details of the shooting at a school in Moscow and gives profile of the student who shot dead his teacher and a policeman; pp 1-2 (869 words).

2. Yaroslav Nikolayev interview headlined "Sea air useful for ruble" with former Central Bank head Viktor Gerashchenko who is trying to downplay the situation with the ruble losing its value. The experts says that only 20 percent of Russians are actually concerned about the ruble exchange rate; pp 1, 3 (998 words).

3. Tatyana Zykova article headlined "Individuals check baggage in" says migrants coming to work in Russia will be able to bring their personal goods in without a customs declaration; pp 1, 4 (492 words).

4. Vladimir Barshev article headlined "777: Sold!" says a bill allowing the traffic police to sell so-called beautiful license plate numbers has been submitted to the State Duma; pp 1, 9 (969 words).

5. Leonid Radzikhovsky article headlined "Ukrainian Federation" analyses geographical, political and economic ties among Ukrainian regions and notes that any accession of Ukrainian eastern regions to Russia is impossible; p 3 (794 words).

6. Pavel Dulman interview "First Ukrainian" with Ukrainian parliament member representing the Party of Regions Oleh Tsaryov speaking on the setting up of the NGO Ukrainian Front by opponents of the European integration of the country. The politician speaks on goals of the new organization; p 8 (801 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Vladimir Sedov and Svetlana Samodelova article headlined "Horrible son" says the teenager who has opened fire in his school in Moscow, was the son of a man working in secret services and had access to weapons; pp 1-2 (841 words).

2. Anastasia Skiba article headlined "Who is more dangerous: Murderer boy or lesbian girl?" slams the Russian law-enforcement agencies who have not noticed violent online posts by the Moscow teenager who opened fire in his school, but created problems for a lesbian girl in Bryansk Region who openly spoke about her sexual orientation; pp 1, 5 (499 words).

3. Irina Bobrova and Svetlana Samodelova article looks into the theories of the Moscow school shooting; p 2 (1,348 words).

RBK Daily

1. Stepan Opalev and Irina Yuzbekova report "A-student in shooting" describes security measures that members of the Russian parliament have proposed following the deadly shooting in a Moscow school; pp 1-2 (750 words).

2. Yelena Attikova article "Oleg Deripaska will not land cheap" says that Sochi airport that belongs to Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska's Bazel Aero will earn a half of its annual net sales during the Sochi Olympics by servicing business jets; pp 1,-2 (450 words).

Noviye Izvestia

1. Artyom Lunkov report "Forbidden trick" looks at the recent laws adopted by the State Duma that emerged soon after mass protests started in neighboring Ukraine; pp 1-2 (1,200 words).

2. Sergei Putilov article headlined "Quarter of trillion floats off" says that the construction of a new aircraft carrier may cost Russian taxpayers about 250 billion rubles (about $70 billion), providing expert opinions; p 3 (700 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda

1. Alexei Grishin and Alexei Ovchinnikov interview with the Federal Migration Service head Konstantin Romodanovsky speaking against introduction of the visa regime with Central Asian republics; pp 1, 8-9 (1,700 words).

2. Igor Kots interview with tycoon Vladimir Potanin, owner of the Roza Khutor venue at Krasnaya Polyana, speaking on the hotel infrastructure in Sochi and the forthcoming Olympic Games; pp 14-15 (1,600 words).

3. Nigina Beroyeva article headlined "Bitcoins: New currency or ordinary MMM" looks at the origin, drawbacks and benefits of the digital currency, stressing that the Central Bank has considered it insecure; pp 11-12 (700 words)

Tvoi Den

1. Anton Stepanov report "His name is Legion" says that foreign mercenaries in Ukraine are paid for fighting against the Berkut riot police; p 2 (250 words).

Trud

1. Sergei Ilchenko article headlined "About 'whole world and single country'" says that the leaders of the Ukrainian opposition have received instructions from foreign politicians at the Munich Security Conference and have also been promised financial aid; p 2 (750 words).

Feb. 4, 2014 / BBC Monitoring / ©BBC