What the Papers Say, June 6, 2013

Kommersant

1. Dmitry Butrin et al. article headlined "Softening of bases" says that outgoing Central Bank head Sergei Ignatyev has announced that there are grounds to soften the monetary and credit policy. The bank's board of directors will discuss the issue at a meeting on 10 June; pp 1, 6 (1,100 words).

2. Sergei Sobolev and Yevgeny Khvostik article headlined "Tourists do not hurry into vacation" says that the summer holiday season has not been meeting tour operators' expectations so far; pp 1, 12 (700 words).

3. Andrei Kolesnikov article headlined "Kremlin's move" reports on President Putin's meeting with Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin, at which the latter's voluntary resignation was discussed. However, the reasons behind Sobyanin's decision remained unclear, the report says; pp 1-2 (900 words).

4. Svetlana Dementyeva et al. article headlined "Mega-liquidator threatens market" says that the Deposit Insurance Agency wants its powers to be increased so that it is able to liquidate not only bankrupt banks, but all bankrupt companies on the financial market; pp 1, 10 (850 words).

5. Viktor Khamrayev article headlined "By low turnout" recalls the history of mayoral elections in Moscow and says that experts are sure that acting Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin will win the early mayoral election this autumn in the first round; p 2 (1,000 words).

6. Maria-Luiza Tirmaste et al. article headlined " Mikhail Prokhorov dragging out election " says that Civil Platform party leader Mikhail Prokhorov, who is believed to be the main rival to acting Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, has not yet decided on standing in the autumn mayoral elections because he has not yet resolved what to do with his foreign assets in order to be able to run for mayorship; p 2 (750 words).

7. Maxim Ivanov brief report headlined "Dmitry Medvedev finds traces of Open Government" looks at an Open Government meeting, at which the year results of its work were summed up; p 3 (450 words).

8. Taisia Bekbulatova article headlined "Apologies presented to Sergei Guriev under president" says that the president's human rights council has apologized to the former head of the New Economic School, Sergei Guriev, and other experts who made a report on the second Yukos case, for law-enforcers' actions; p 3 (600 words).

9. Ivan Safronov article headlined "Dmitry Livanov attacked from space" says that Federal Space Agency head Vladimir Popovkin has criticized Education and Science Minister Dmitry Livanov for a delay in the development of new education standards for the space-rocket industry; p 3 (600 words).

10. Sergei Mashkin article headlined "Materials on Anatoly Serdyukov's son-in-law collected in remand center" says that the former general director and the chief accountant of the federal state unitary enterprise St. Petersburg Engineering and Technical center of the Defense Ministry have been detained on suspicion of fraud and embezzlement. Investigators believe that they may testify against former defense minister's son-in-law who once headed the enterprise; p 4 (700 words).

11. Vyacheslav Kozlov article headlined "They suggest strengthening control over jails" says that a new human rights organization — a public monitoring commission under the Russian human rights ombudsman — is planned to be set up to control prisons; p 5 (400 words).

12. Sergei Strokan article headlined "Syrian talks need participants" says that a trilateral meeting between Russian, U.S. and UN representatives on the preparations of the Geneva-2 peace conference on Syria has not yielded any striking results. The sticking point is still participants in the conference; p 7 (500 words).

13. Maria Yefimova article headlined "Patriots set target in Jordan" says that Jordan will take part in an international military drill, involving 19 Middle East countries, to be held on 9-20 June. U.S. missile systems Patriot will be delivered to the country to this effect and will stay there after the drill ends. Moscow is displeased with the move; p 7 (450 words).

14. Kirill Belyaninov article headlined "Arms market to have rules" says that Russia does not want to join an international treaty on the global arms trade, being displeased with a provision banning arms sales to "problem regimes"; p 8 (700 words).

15. Comment by PIR center expert Vadim Kozyulin published in the opinion column headlined "Price of issue" focuses on the international treaty on the global arms trade and Russia's stance on it; p 8 (400 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Yevgenia Novikova article headlined "Paris considers use of chemicals in Syria fact" says that France has concluded that sarin nerve agent has been used in Syria four times, but who exactly has used it remains unknown. Russia and the U.S. cast doubt on this and wants UN chemists to make an examination; p 1, 7 (700 words).

2. Alexei Gorbachev article headlined "Bolotnaya justice declared open" says that the trial of 12 participants in the so-called Bolotnaya case on the 6 May 2012 riots on Moscow's Bolotnaya square begins today; pp 1, 3 (900 words).

3. Igor Naumov article headlined "Elvira Nabiullina inherits stagnation" says that the softening of the monetary and credit policy in Russia is expected to happen after the leadership of the Central Bank changes; pp 1, 4 (900 words).

4. Sergei Kulikov article headlined "Economic Development Ministry ready to force monopolies go on diet" says that the Economic Development Ministry has drafted proposals to increase gas tariffs by a mere five percent instead of 15; p 1, 4 (600 words).

5. Vladimir Mukhin article headlined "Drug trafficking fighters gather in Moscow" says that ways to cope with drug trafficking from Afghanistan after the international coalition forces are withdrawn from it in 2014 have been discussed at a three-day International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC) in Moscow; p 2 (600 words).

6. Alexandra Samarina article headlined "Speed and onslaught" says that President Putin has accepted Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin's resignation and appointed him an acting mayor. Meanwhile, the leader of the Yabloko party, Sergei Mitrokhin, has decided to run for Moscow mayorship; p 3 (900 words).

7. Ivan Rodin article headlined "Officials threatened with testing" says that the State Duma has held a roundtable meeting to discuss problems of the Russian language. Russian laws are incomprehensible for most Russians and politicians sometimes make inane speeches; p 3 (500 words).

8. Andrei Antonenko article headlined "Great and strong tie of friendship" looks at the use of the Russian language in Kazakhstan; p 6 (1,500 words).

9. Yury Paniyev article headlined "USA does not want to lose Latin America" says that the U.S. is doing its best to regain influence in Latin America. Russia is also trying not to lose authority in the region. A Russian expert thinks that Latin America is turning into a battlefield between the U.S. and China; p 7 (700 words).

10. Vladimir Skosyrev interview headlined "Moscow and Beijing do not need military alliance" with a Chinese scientist, who speaks about Russian-Chinese relations and prospects for their development; p 7 (900 words).

Vedomosti

1. Olga Kuvshinova article headlined "State not responsible for early pensions" says that the Russian Labour Ministry has suggested liquidating the system of state early pensions and shifting this task onto employers; pp 1, 4 (800 words).

2. Maria Zheleznova and Anastasia Kornya article headlined "Foreign hundred-strong squadron" says that according to Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov, about 100 NGOs are financed from abroad and may soon be granted the so-called foreign agent status; pp 1-2 (400 words).

3. Editorial headlined "New old way of life" looks into a draft state family policy until 2025; pp 1, 6 (450 words).

4. Anastasia Kornya article headlined "Cell for protest" says that the hearing of the so-called Bolotnaya case has begun in Moscow. According to pundits, the public interest to the case will depend on the final sentence ; p 2 (400 words).

5. Margarita Papchenkova article headlined "Russia does not want to live according to U.S. laws" says that Russia does not want to join the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and wants a separate agreement similar to the FATCA to be concluded with the U.S.; p 5 (450 words).

6. Vasily Kashin article headlined "Regime of communicating courtyard" criticizes the visa-free travel regime between Russia and Central Asian countries; p 6 (800 words).

7. Yelena Khodyakova article headlined "They cannot work together" says that the Russian gas giant Gazprom and the independent gas manufacturer Novatek have failed to agree on setting-up a joint venture in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area; p 12 (350 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Mikhail Barshchevsky interview with Russian Education and Science Minister Dmitry Livanov; pp 1, 6 (1,800 words).

2. Natalya Kozlova and Mikhail Falaleyev article headlined "Dingy morning" says that the Moscow underground has been hit by fire; pp 1, 5 (700 words).

3. Kira Latukhina factual report headlined "For Moscow to elect" describes President Putin-Moscow mayor Sobyanin meeting in the Kremlin; p 2 (500 words).

4. Sergei Toporkov article headlined "To defeat empire of evil " outlines President Putin's speech at the International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC) in Moscow; p 2 (500 words).

5. Anna Zakatnova article headlined "All to execute!" looks at a study made by the Constitutional Court as to how its rulings are fulfilled; p 2 (400 words).

6. Vitaly Petrov article headlined "Not by minister alone" reports on an Open Government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Medvedev; p 3 (700 words).

7. Mikhail Falaleyev interview with the head of Moscow police, Anatoly Yakunin; p 7 (2,500 words).

Izvestia

1. Alexander Yunashev and Alena Sevakova article headlined "Anastasia Rakova to head Sobyanin's pre-election campaign" comments on acting mayor Sergei Sobyanin's preparations for early mayoral election in September; pp 1, 4 (350 words).

2. Yelena Teslova article headlined "Vladimir Putin to meet David Cameron in London" speculates on the possible agenda of Putin's visit to Great Britain and looks into the history of Putin-Cameron meetings in the past; p 2 (300 words).

3. Svetlana Povoraznyuk and Anton Zhukov article headlined "Cable that went on fire should have been replaced 10 years ago" looks into the reasons that caused fire in Moscow subway; p 3 (500 words).

4. Yelena Teslova article headlined "Donations to be gathered for protection of convicts' rights" says that the Public Chamber has decided to set up a foundation for private donations, which would finance public commissions established in order to control the observance of the convicts' rights; p 3 (200 words).

5.Yevgeny Safronov and Alexander Gridasov article headlined "Defense Ministry to buy armored diving suits" says that more than 120 billion rubles ($3.7 billion) are to be allocated for the purchase of new underwater special forces uniform; p 4 (500 words).

6. Yury Matsarsky and Mikhail Fomichev article headlined "'He promised to sink us'" features a report from Makhachkala, the mayor of which, Said Amirov, has been arrested on suspicion of organizing the murder of an investigator; p 5 (900 words).

7. Viktor Toporov article headlined "Big maneuvers" looks into possible reasons behind Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin's early resignation; p 10 (600 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Alexander Khinshteyn article headlined "Curse of Nurgaliyev family" says that an investigator dealing with a criminal case opened against a group of policemen headed by former Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev's driver Alexander Kovalev, suspected of large theft, has been sacked; pp 1, 4 (900 words).

2. Yulia Kalinina article headlined "This is not Ananskikh, this is bird!" says that opposition activist and blogger Georgy Alburov has discovered that the chairman of the State Duma committee on physical education, sports and youth affairs, Igor Ananskikh, owns undeclared property in the U.S.; p 1 (300 words).

3. Mikhail Zubov article headlined "H hour for government" features experts' comments on the future of the Russian government and prospects of Dmitry Medvedev as the prime minister; pp 1, 5 (1,200 words).

4. Another article by Mikhail Zubov headlined "A Just Russia sells its youngsters to United Russia members for Seliger" says that the A Just Russia party has instructed the heads of its regional branches to send delegations to the Seliger-2013 summer camp for pro-Kremlin youth to be held on 14 July-6 August; p 2 (150 words).

5. Mikhail Zubov interview with the head of the president's human rights council, Mikhail Fedotov, headlined "Mikhail Fedotov tells about 'experts' case'", who speaks about a scandal involving experts who made a report on the second Yukos case; p 2 (500 words).

6. Marina Ozerova article headlined "They not in hurry to amend law about rallies" says that the government should have amended the law about rallies by removing unconstitutional provisions from it by June. However, this has not been done; p 2 (400 words).

7. Yeva Merkacheva article headlined "U.S. ambassador McFaul: 'We did not pay to Navalny'" reports on U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul's meeting with Russian bloggers, at which foreign adoption of Russian children and financing of the Russian opposition were discussed among other things; p 3 (300 words).

8. Matvey Ganapolskyarticle headlined "Brain corrosion" highlights acting Moscow mayor Sobyanin's services, ridicules the Russian opposition for it being unprepared for elections as usual and says that there are no worthy rivals to Sobyanin at the early mayoral election in Moscow in autumn; p 3 (800 words).

9. Magomed Yusupov article headlined "Amirov's shooting list" looks at charges against Dagestan's political heavyweight Said Amirov; p 4 (400 words).

10. Yekaterina Pichugina brief interview with Moscow city parliament speaker and Moscow city duma deputy Vladimir Platonov headlined "Resignation for victory", who comments on Sobyanin's decision to resign as Moscow mayor; p 6 (300 words).

Noviye Izvestia

1. Yulia Savina article headlined "Acting alone not to get caught" says that pickets have been staged in Moscow and St. Petersburg in support of the Bolotnaya case suspects; p 2 (550 words).

2. Vera Moslakova article headlined "Initiative trolling" says that a special working group will be set up to consider initiatives sent by Russians via the Public Initiative portal; p 2 (450 words).

3. Gennady Petrov brief interview with Natalya Ulchenko, head of the Turkey department at the Oriental Studies Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, headlined "'Two mentalities have clashed'", who speaks about the unrest in Turkey; p 5 (400 words).

Krasnaya Zvezda

1. Alexander Tikhonov article headlined "Single anti-drug front" comments on three-day International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC) that kicked off in Moscow on 5 May; pp 1, 3 (1,000 words).

2. Vladimir Mokhov article headlined "Secret services compare notes" looks at a secret service chiefs' conference held in Kazan on 5 May and says that Russian Federal Secret Service (FSB) head Alexander Bortnikov has urged foreign partners to join efforts in their fight against international and cross-border terrorism; p 1 (350 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta (weekly)

1. Viktor Feshchenko article "Turkish check" looks into the latest riots and mass protests in Turkey and says Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan may still benefit from the situation; p 12 (500 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda (weekly)

1. Vitaly Klimov article headlined "Five main questions about Makhachkala mayor's arrest" answers five most popular questions about the recent arrest of former Makhachkala mayor Said Amirov on charges of murder; p 3 (900 words).

2.Yevgeny Arsyukhin article headlined "One may make a fortune on good idle talk" questions whether the opposition lawmaker Ilya Ponomarev's lectures for the Skolkovo foundation could indeed cost $750,000 p 6 (700 words).

3. Yelena Chinkova article headlined "British secret services planned to kidnap people and blow up trains in Russia" says some MI6 secret documents relating to the 1930s have been declassified recently. The article notes the documents show the British secret services prepared disorders in the Soviet Russia of that time; p 8 (1,100 words).

Kovsomolskaya Pravda

1. Darya Aslamova article headlined "Kebab scented revolution" looks at the recent mass disorders and rallies in Turkey and features ordinary Turkish citizens' comments on the events; pp 3-4 (1,200 words).

Related articles:

• What the Papers Say, June 5, 2012
• What the Papers Say, June 4, 2012
• What the Papers Say, June 3, 2012