What the Papers Say, May 14, 2013

Kommersant

1. Khalil Aminov article headlined "Ground prepared for World Cup" says it will take Russian officials only seven days to seize plots of land from their owners to build the facilities for the World Cup 2018. The author notes that it is a new record as a similar procedure in Sochi took a month; pp 1, 12 (728 words).

2. Maxim Ivanov article headlined "They will go to Putin for new dismissals" says the Communist and LDPR leadership are to ask for the dismissal of Education Minister Dmitry Livanov at the next meeting with President Vladimir Putin; pp 1, 3 (743 words).

3. Vladislav Novy and Anna Balashova article headlined "Svyaznoy without two" says that Vimpelcom and MegaFon mobile phone operators owning the mobile phone retail network Evroset plan to stop cooperating with another network Svyaznoy; pp 1, 13 (686 words).

4. Yegor Popov et al. report headlined "Buses to have gas added" says that up to 50 percent of the Russian public transport will use gas fuel; the authorities plan to allocate financial support for the plans; pp 1, 9 (711 words).

5. Taisya Bekbulatova article headlined "Mikhail Prokhorov prepares large meeting" says the Civil Platform party is to hold a congress for its candidates taking part in the regional elections this autumn; p 2 (415 words).

6. Maxim Ivanov et al. report headlined "'Cleaning hands' operation" comments on the on-going anti-corruption campaign and tries to see who can benefit from it; p 4 (1,080 words).

7. Article by Yaroslav Shimov, Radio Liberty observer, in opinion column headlined "Price of issue" says fight against corruption is likely to become ineffective without changing the political system which has given rise to the violations; p 4 (456 words).

8. Maxim Ivanov interview with Leonid Polyakov, expert from the Higher School of Economics, who says that the fight against corruption aims to show people that the state starts taking care about them; p 4 (677 words).

9. Maxim Ivanov interview with Lev Gudkov, head of Levada Center, saying that corruption cases have made people lose trust in officials altogether; p 4 (650 words).

10. Nikolai Sergeiev and Alexei Sokovnin article headlined "Leader for Russian nationalists found in Serbia" says Ilya Goryachev, suspected of setting up an extremist group involved in dozens of murders in Russia, has been arrested in Belgrade; p 5 (857 words).

11. Alexander Chernykh article headlined "Golos suppressed with fine" says the Justice Ministry has opened another administrative case against the Golos NGO unwilling to get registered as a foreign agent. The organization is facing another hefty fine, article notes; p 5 (560 words).

12. Yelena Chernenko article headlined "Russia limits Polar circle" says the Arctic Council is to discuss the future of the North Pole at a meeting in Sweden. The author notes that Russia does not want non-Arctic states to get involved in the Arctic exploration; p 7 (760 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Alexandra Samarina article headlined "About possibility and impossibility of amnesty" says the Russian presidential Human Rights Council has backed the initiative by the two Communist lawmakers to declare amnesty to the people involved in the Bolotnaya Ploshchad disturbances case. The activists, however, refuse to admit their guilt and want to demand compensation for the unlawful prosecution; pp 1, 3 (802 words).

2. Sergei Kulikov article headlined "Housing tax gets stuck again" says the housing tax is to be imposed on Russians only in 2017, the experimental taxation will begin in several regions in January 2014, while experts believe the plans to be ill-thought-out; pp 1, 4 (763 words).

3. Vladimir Mukhin article headlined "Special task forces directed toward Sochi" sums up the results of Putin's meeting with the leadership of the Defense Ministry and the Security Council, where security during Winter Olympics 2014 in Sochi was discussed; pp 1-2 (663 words).

4. Alexei Gorbachev article headlined "Observers losing Golos" says the Russian Justice Ministry has opened another administrative case against the Golos NGO unwilling to get registered as a foreign agent. The organization is likely to be closed, the article notes; pp 1, 3 (829 words).

5. Tatyana Ivzhenko article headlined "Kiev denies beginning of new trade war" says Ukraine plans to start supplying poultry to the EU as the Russian agricultural watchdog has found some harmful microelements in chicken meat from Ukraine; pp 1, 7 (810 words).

6. Darya Tsilyurik article headlined "Provinces keep Beijing on financial hook" says China is likely to have problems with its state debt as its provinces are overloaded with loans. At the same time, state investment becomes less effective in the country; pp 1, 8 (657 words).

7. Editorial headlined "Academic bullying" says the Kremlin is likely to support the incumbent head of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yury Osipov, who is believed to seek re-election in late May; p 2 (504 words).

8. Ivan Rodin article headlined "Defenders of believers' feelings face new challenges" says the State Duma legislation committee considers amendments to the bill on protection of religious feelings and is facing challenges as it is hard to determine legal grounds for the offense; p 3 (806 words).

9. Vladimir Skosyrev article headlined "Cameron to report to Obama about talks in Sochi" says British Prime Minister David Cameron is visiting the U.S. where he plans to discuss free trade between the EU and the U.S. Some politicians in Washington are skeptical about the plans as Britain is considering withdrawal from the European Union; p 8 (530 words).

10. Mikhail Remizov article headlined "Un-united Russia: Mapping of ethnic and religious threats" says that in the near future, Russia may face a social break-up based on religious and ethnic problems; p 5 (3,400 words).

Izvestia

1. Anna Akhmadyeva article headlined "Public TV asks for another 700 million rubles" says Public TV head Anatoly Lysenko has asked the authorities to allocate 700 million rubles (around $22.5 million) for the purchase of production equipment; pp 1 (507 words).

2. Anton Mardasov article headlined "Deputy economic development minister questioned as part of Skolkovo case" says Deputy Economic Development Minister Pavel Korolyov has been questioned as part of the probe into the alleged illegal payment of $750,000 dollars to opposition lawmaker Ilya Ponomaryov by the Skolkovo foundation; pp 1, 3 (558 words).

3. Dmitry Yevstifeyev article headlined "Son of Skrynnik's deputy appears in Rosagrolizing case" says that another person is being suspected of corruption as part of the Rosagrolizing case. The management of the Central Vodka Company in Lipetsk (which is co-owned by the son of former Deputy Agricultural Minister Oleg Donskikh) is suspected of tax evasion; pp 1, 4 (564 words).

4. Anna Akhmadyeva article headlined "Public TV asks for another 700 million rubles" says the Russian Public TV (OTR) general director, Anatoly Lysenko, has asked the Federal Press and Mass Communications Agency for additional subsidies; pp 1, 5 (350 words).

5. Sergei Podosenov article headlined "LDPR deputies to return to canvassing trains" says a train with LDPR deputies is to visit several Russian regions ahead of local elections there; p 2 (486 words).

5. Alexei Mikhaylov article headlined "Seamen ask to rebuild Boreis" says the Russian Navy has come up with a proposal to change the cabins of nuclear submarines of the 955 (Borei) type. Submariners used to complain about cramped cabins in the first submarines of this type that have already been tested; p 3 (483 words).

Vedomosti

1. Lilya Biryukova and Vitaly Petlevoy article headlined "To set Russia free" says that large-scale amnesty to the people found guilty of economic crimes may be discussed at Putin's meeting with businessmen. The move may improve Russia's business climate and help cope with economic recession, the article says; pp 1, 3 (680 words).

2. Editorial headlined "Future tax" slams the Russian government policy of rising taxation as a measure to increase budget revenues instead of fighting against corruption and making budget spending more efficient; pp 1, 6 (461 words).

3. Mikhail Overchenko and Galina Kamneva article headlined "Terminal case" says Bloomberg journalists have had access to private information of the company's clients since the 1990s. A probe into the situation has been launched; pp 1, 14 (678 words).

4. Margarita Lyutova article headlined "Against FSB monopoly" says the Russian Federal Anti-Monopoly Service wants transport companies to be allowed to use tachometers without the special certificate by the Federal Security Service, as only one company is currently manufacturing the devices licensed by the FSB; p 4 (541 words).

5. Another editorial headlined "Following Depardieu's footsteps" comments on Putin's plans to simplify the Russian immigration procedures for foreigners having the knowledge of the Russian language; p 6 (303 words).

6. Olga Proskurnina interview with Secretary-General of the International Exhibitions Bureau Vicente Loscertales speaking on Yekaterinburg prospects of hosting World Expo 2020; pp 8-9 (1,803 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Yelena Kukol article headlined "What should be considered main thing" says Russian officials including judges, servicemen and members of their families should get rid of foreign bank accounts in accordance with the law published by the paper on 14 May; pp 1, 5 (668 words).

2. Yury Gavrilov interview with Russia's chief military prosecutor, Sergei Fridinsky, explaining the reasons behind his appeal to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to release the chief executive of the Russian Defense Ministry-controlled Oboronservis company, Sergei Khursevich, from his post; pp 1-2 (500 words).

3. Alexander Gasyuk article headlined "Parade gets under bullets" reports on a shooting incident at the Mother's Day parade in New Orleans where 19 people have been injured; p 8 (722 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Nikolai Vardul article headlined "Dollar, go out with your personal belongings" says an initiative by an LDPR lawmaker to ban the use of the dollar in Russia is ridiculous; pp 1, 4 (861 words).

2. Irina Finyakina article headlined "Will Hyde Park become gay park?" says the Moscow city authorities are unlikely to allow homosexuals to carry out their rallies at special platforms allocated for public gatherings in the city; pp 1-2 (539 words).

3. Melor Sturua article headlined "They organize New Orleans shooting on Mother's Day" gives details of a shooting incident at Mother's Day parade in New Orleans; p 2 (579 words).

4. Unattributed article headlined "Letter to Putin and orphans" says the U.S. parents who were planning to adopt Russian children but could not do so as the law banning the procedure has come into effect, have written an open letter to Russian officials; p 2 (813 words).

RBK daily

1. Yulia Yakovleva report "Ban on rainbow" says that LGBT activists plan to carry out a gay parade in Moscow on May 25 or 26; pp 1-2 (750 words).

2. Brief unattributed report says that administrative proceedings have been instituted against the election monitoring non-profit organization Golos for refusing to register as a "foreign agent"; p 2 (150 words).

3. Svetlana Makunina report "Lost A Just Russia member" says that Just Russia lawmaker Ilya Ponomaryov has failed to turn up for a meeting of the faction's presidium where his colleagues wanted to demand that he either give up the activities running counter to the party's policy, or step down; p 2 (650 words).

Krasnaya Zvezda

1. Viktor Ruchkin report "Situation becomes more unstable in Middle East" looks at the situation in Syria; pp 1, 3 (1,300 words).

2. Lyudmila Gundarova report "Nimitz causes wave of tension" says that the situation on the Korean Peninsula has deteriorated again; p 3 (700 words).

3. Artem Livinsky report "Pantsir for Pele's motherland" says that Russia will sign a contract with Brazil to deliver air defense systems to the country in the near future; p 1 (400 words).

Noviye Izvestya

1. Sergei Manukov article headlined "Lash for Ahmadinezhad" says Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may be punished for violating the law while canvassing for his candidate in the upcoming presidential election; p 2 (449 words).

2. Mikhail Bely report "Demand for poll" says that the number of instances, when Russian sociologists adjust poll results to customer's request, has recently grown; pp 1, 5 (950 words).

3. Margarita Alekhina report "Double agent" says that a second administrative case has been opened against the NGO Golos over foreign financing; pp 1, 5 (600 words).

4. Vera Moslakova report "It is more painful with ruble" says that State Duma deputies have changed their minds and decided not to introduce a separate article in the Criminal Code for insulting believers' feelings; p 2 (900 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda

1. Dmitry Smirnov report looks at President Vladimir Putin's meeting with commanders-in-chief and commanders of branches and arms of service in Sochi to sum up the results of military exercises carried out in March; p 2 (650 words).

2. Viktor Baranets report "Head of Oboronservis fails due to 'white elephants'" says that the military prosecutor's office has suggested that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu sack the general director of the ministry-affiliated holding company Oboronservis which has been at the center of a corruption scandal; p 3 (1,000 words).

3. Yevgeny Suchkov report "Are Tsarnaev brothers recidivists?" says that the Tsarnaev brothers, who are accused of staging the Boston terrorist attack, may be involved in another crime committed in 2011; p 3 (450 words).

4. Dmitry Steshin report "First stake is on West; second is on East" looks at the current situation in Afghanistan; pp 10-11 (2,800 words).

May 14, 2013/BBC Monitoring/©BBC

Related articles:

• What the Papers Say, May 13, 2012
• What the Papers Say, May 8, 2012
• What the Papers Say, May 7, 2012