What the Papers Say, July 1, 2013

Kommersant

1. Vyacheslav Kozlov article headlined "Anti-drug fighters ask for reinforcement" says that the Federal Drug Control Service has asked for 180 billion rubles ($5.4 billion) to set up private rehabilitation centers for drug addicts; pp 1, 5 (746 words).

2. Olga Shestopal article headlined "Blagosostoyaniye deviates from Absolyut" says that the purchase of the Absolyut-bank by the non-state pension fund Blagosostoyaniye may be declared invalid; pp 1, 7 (589 words).

3. Viktor Khamrayev article headlined "Only United Russia ready for supreme court" says that a working group to draft amendments to the constitution and laws on the Supreme Court and the Supreme Arbitration Court has been set up at the State Duma; pp 1-2 (533 words).

4. Petr Netreba et al. article headlined "Vladimir Yakunin gets in line for would-be pension" says that Russia's four major state corporations, including Russian Railways, have made their claims for the funds from the National Welfare Fund; pp 1-2 (861 words).

5. Taisia Bekbulatova et al. report headlined "Alexei Navalny charged under non-existent law" says that police have accused Moscow mayoral candidate Alexei Navalny of breaking the law on elections and seized his campaign materials. Experts say that such a law does not exist and no violations of Moscow's electoral code have been committed by Navalny; p 2 (544 words).

6. Irina Nagornykh et al. report headlined "Regions where elections will be held to be left without People's Front" says that conferences of the All-Russia Public Movement People's Front for Russia (All-Russia People's Front) are not to be held in the regions where regional elections are due in autumn for fear that United Russia members may start leaving the party for the front; p 3 (662 words).

7. Sergei Goryashko article headlined "Russia's citizens play in reduced strength" says that polls conducted by the Levada Center pollster show that while 23 percent of the polled oppose the separation of Chechnya, 24 percent would welcome the move. Meanwhile, 12 percent are confident that the separation of Chechnya has actually taken place; p 3 (421 words).

8. Natalya Gorodetskaya article headlined "Public Chamber may lose leadership" says that Public Chamber secretary Yevgeny Velikhov and his first deputy Mikhail Ostrovsky may soon resign and ponders over reasons; p 3 (645 words).

9. Viktor Khamrayev article headlined "Sergei Stepashin and Tatyana Golikova become rivals" speculates on who may become the chairman of the Audit Chamber; p 3 (617 words).

10. Kirill Belyaninov and Pavel Tarasenko article headlined "Edward Snowden delivered into Moscow's hands" says that Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa has stated that the fate of former CIA contractor Edward Snowden is in the hands of the authorities, which means Ecuador has distanced itself from the problem and shifted responsibility for this sensitive issue on Moscow; p 6 (497 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Ivan Rodin article headlined "Federal Migration Service postpones bill on immigration control until late 2015" looks at a five-year plan of work to implement the president's May decrees that the Federal Migration Service has drafted; pp 1-2 (729 words).

2. Alexei Gorbachev article headlined "Golos banned from doubling" says that the Justice Ministry has threatened the Golos NGO with fines and administrative punishment if it attempts to resume its operation; pp 1, 3 (596 words).

3. Mikhail Sergeyev article headlined "Industrialists cut investment" says that heads of industrial companies assess negatively demand for their output and plan to cut investment, which reduces the chances of economy's revival in the second part of the year; pp 1, 4 (640 words).

4. Sergei Kulikov article headlined "Gazprom gets ready for New Year war" says that Gazprom's CEO Alexei Miller has stated that the monopoly will stop using Ukraine's underground storage facilities. Experts label the statement as a declaration of a gas war as it will be difficult to ensure gas supplies to European consumers in winter without them; pp 1, 4 (1,050 words).

5. Yevgenia Novikova article headlined "Tahrir-2 demands President Morsi's resignation" says that amid mass protests and escalating tension between supporters and opponents of the Egyptian leader, the army may be able to come back to power; pp 1, 6 (549 words).

6. Viktoria Panfilova article headlined "British lion jumps on Caspian Sea" looks at the visit of British Prime Minister David Cameron to Kazakhstan; pp 1, 6 (824 words).

7. Andrei Vaganov article headlined "Science in turbulence zone" says that another emergency meeting of the presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences to work out an official stance on the proposed reform of science is to be held today; p 2 (718 words).

8. Editorial headlined "Russia risks talking around main priority" says that despite loud claims, CIS countries are not ready for further integration with Russia, which makes the idea of Eurasian integration a mirage; p 2 (535 words).

9. Vladimir Mukhin article headlined "CSTO takes its time with changes" says that the Collective Security Treaty Organization may prove inefficient in countering threats that will emerge after the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan as the announced reforms and reorganization of its structure have been postponed; p 3 (591 words).

10. Article headlined "Hundred Russian leading politicians in June 2013" features a rating of influence of Russian politicians in June; p 5 (1,862 words).

11. Oksana Skripnikova report "Getting unfastened from vote rigging" says that acting Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has said that Moscow should give up using absentee ballots in the upcoming mayoral election in September; p 5 (750 words).

12. Vladimir Skosyrev article headlined "Invisible man may get stuck at Sheremetyevo for long time" says that Moscow has found itself in a predicament after the leader of Ecuador stated that it is Moscow that should determine the fate of the former CIA employee Edward Snowden; p 6 (595 words).

13. Anastasia Bashkatova article headlined "Ministers, bankers and presidential aides swap places" says that several reshuffles, which took place last week, may drastically alter the country's economic course; p 7 (404 words).

14. Ivan Rodin article headlined "Amnesty and election, courts and extremists" looks at the main political events of the previous week: the economic amnesty proposed by President Vladimir Putin and the court reform; p 7 (425 words).

15. Oleg Vladykin article headlined "Anticipating new tanks" looks at recent developments relating to the re-armament of the Russian Armed Forces; p 7 (580 words).

Vedomosti

1. Tatyana Voronova article headlined "Yury Kovalchuk cannot get access to 26 billion rubles" says that the Rossia bank controlled by Yury Kovalchuk still has 620 million euros frozen on its account in a Cypriot bank, and features bankers' comments; pp 1, 14 (587 words).

2. Anastasia Golitsyna article headlined "Seeking sense on Russian internet" says that the Civil Society Development Fund will begin to monitor social networks. Both politicians and businessmen are interested in the service; pp 1, 17 (639 words).

3. Editorial headlined "Fear of slowing down" looks at how Turkey, Brazil, China and Russia react to a drastic economic slowdown; pp 1, 6 (417 words).

4. Editorial headlined "At the bottom" looks at a report of the Russian sociology institute on poverty in Russia; p 6 (337 words).

5. Maxim Tovkaylo et al. report headlined "Welfare in great demand" says that the Economic Development Ministry has suggested using the National Welfare Fund to invest in several state corporations; p 5 (774 words).

6. Lilia Biryukova and Svetlana Bocharova article headlined "Intrigue in chamber" says that current head of the Audit Chamber Sergei Stepashin and presidential aide Tatyana Golikova are the most probable candidates for the post of head of the Audit Chamber; p 4 (571 words).

7. Anastasia Kornya article headlined "CIS agent" says that the Justice Ministry has registered the first NGO as a "foreign agent": the non-profit partnership Assistance to Competition Development in CIS Countries; p 3 (317 words).

8. Maria Zheleznova article headlined "Navalny gets ahead of rivals" says that today Moscow mayoral candidate Alexei Navalny is to present his program which focuses on countering corruption and illegal migration; p 2 (694 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Taras Fomchenkov interview with head of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum Leonid Bokhanovsky headlined "Gas evolution" where he speaks about the so-called shale gas revolution in the U.S., the current situation on the gas market and the tasks facing the Gas Exporting Countries Forum; pp 1-2 (2,800 words).

2. Kira Latukhina article headlined "Guests in Kremlin" looks ahead at the second summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum to take place in Moscow today; p 2 (900 words).

3. Vladislav Vorobyev article headlined "Correa finds scapegoat" says that after talks with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, the Ecuadorian president has changed his mind about saving whistleblower Edward Snowden currently hiding in Russia; p 8 (800 words).

Izvestia

1. YuryMatsarsky and Sergei Galyandin article headlined "Surkov's father does not advise his son to become opposition" gives an account of a meeting with former Deputy Prime Minister Vladislav Surkov's father; pp 1, 5 (1,419 words).

2. Alena Sivkova and Petr Kozlov article headlined "Larisa Ponomareva leaves Federation Council" says that the senator from Chukotka Autonomous District, Larisa Ponomaryova, the mother of A Just Russia deputy Ilya Ponomaryov, is going to leave the Federation Council soon; pp 1, 4 (581 words).

3. Yulia Tsoy interview with Gennady Gudkov, running for Moscow Region head from the Yabloko party, headlined "We do not get single signature because of authorities' pressure", where he speaks about campaigning, his chances in the election and his opponents' ratings; pp 1, 3 (1,763 words).

4. Yegor Sazayev-Guryev article headlined "Venezuelan president may take Snowden" says that Venezuela may grant political asylum to Edward Snowden as its leader is visiting Moscow on 1-2 July; p 2 (451 words).

5. Sergei Podosenov article headlined "Over half of Russians support return of capital punishment" comments on the polls showing a change in Russians' attitude to capital punishment; p 2 (625 words).

6. Alexander Yunashev report "White House toughens rules of sending documents to journalists" says that following a scandal with a hoax regarding Russian Railways head Vladimir Yakunin's "resignation", the government will introduce stricter rules of sending documents to journalists; p 2 (900 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Anastasia Gnedinskaya interview headlined "MK finds pilot who taught Putin to fly with cranes" with Igor Nikitin, a pilot who taught Putin to fly a hang-glider; pp 1, 5 (1,300 words).

2. Ilya Baranikas report "Snowden sort of already in prison" looks at the situation with American wistleblower Edward Snowden who is hiding at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport; pp 1-2 (500 words).

3. Marina Ozerova report "Treating Russian Academy of Sciences prescribed for State Duma" looks at the reform of the Russian Academy of Sciences; pp 1-2 (800 words).

4. Ignat Kalinin report "Shoigu sets up smart army" says that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has visited a range in Alabino, Moscow Region, to inspect unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs); p 2 (400 words).

Novaya Gazeta

1. Olga Prosvirova article headlined "'Doomsday' for NGO adjourned" comments on registration of the organization Assistance for the Development of Competition in CIS countries as first "foreign agent" NGO in Russia; p 6 (700 words).

2. Pavel Felgengauer "Agent of distrust" speculates about whether Edward Snowden may become a valuable source for Russian special services or his stunt is aimed at misinforming Russian intelligence agencies; p 7 (872 words).

3. Georgy Yans article headlined "Some to catch up, others to get warm" speculates on possible results of the election of Moscow Region head; p 10 (1,035 words).

Noviye Izvestia

1. Yulia Savina article headlined "Audit with closed eyes" says Sergei Stepashin's possible resignation from the post of the Audit Chamber's head may lead to the spread of corruption within the body; p 2 (500 words).

2. Sergei Putilov article headlined "Penal battalion for defense (sector)" says major violations worth 16 billion ($490 million) have been exposed in the Russian state defense order for 2012; p 3 (450 words).

3. Anna Alexeyeva article headlined "Prosecutors' secrets" looks at the latest developments with NGOs' checks in Russia; p 5 (500 words).

RBC Daily

1. Alexander Litoy article headlined "First agent" says the organization Assistance for the Development of Competition in CIS countries has entered the list of "foreign agent" NGOs receiving funds from abroad and involved in political activities in Russia; p 2 (550 words).

2. Alexander Litoy article headlined "Monitoring without dialogue" says that Moscow Helsinki Group is going to prepare a report on the damage caused by the latest prohibitive laws adopted in Russia; p 2 (600 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda

1. Andrei Yegorov article headlined "Snowden sets USA against EU" comments on the latest developments in the situation with CIA whistleblower Edward Snowden, his whereabouts and a surveillance scandal he has caused lately; p 3 (400 words).

Related articles:

• What the Papers Say, June 28, 2012
• What the Papers Say, June 27, 2012
• What the Papers Say, June 26, 2012