What the Papers Say, Oct. 10, 2012

Kommersant

1. Ivan Safronov and Viktor Khamrayev article headlined "Police-Maker" reports on the Russian Defense Ministry's plans to set up military police capable of carrying out investigations, opening criminal cases and taking part in operations to suppress public disturbances; pp 1-2 (973 words).

2. Vadim Visloguzov and Nikolai Sergeyev article headlined "Nothing Hampers Sale of ROSTEK Any Longer" comments on the dismissal of Alexander Povstyanny, head of ROSTEK, the state-controlled holding company providing customs clearance service; pp 1, 6 (762 words).

3. Yelizaveta Kuznetsova article headlined "Aeroflot Gets Exclusive Service From Sheremetyevo" says Sheremetyevo Airport has signed an agreement to allocate its terminals D, E and F only to the Aeroflot airlines and its partners within the Sky Team association; pp 1, 11 (584 words).

4. Margarita Fedorova article headlined "Berezhkovskaya [Embankment] Becomes Closer to Kremlin" says the Moscow Mayor's Office wants to sell half of the Radisson SAS Slavyanskaya hotel for 8 billion ruble (around $254 million); pp 1, 13 (511 words).

5. Viktor Khamrayev article headlined "CPRF Criticized by Comrades" says that Communists from various political movements have criticized the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) over its support to businesses. The CPRF attributes the criticism to a regional election campaign; p 2 (667 words).

6. Sofya Samokhina article headlined "Communists' Revenues Ahead" says the State Duma is to check information on the revenues of several Communist deputies; p 2 (618 words).

7. Ivan Safronov and Tamila Dzhodzhua article headlined "Admiral Gorshkov Prepared for Sanctions" says India is reportedly going to impose sanctions over delays with the commissioning of the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov it is buying from Russia; p 3 (410 words).

8. Andrei Kolesnikov article headlined "Covering Things in Ground" comments on the meeting of the presidium of the State Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, which has discussed the land ownership issue; p 3 (1,227 words).

9. Maxim Ivanov article headlined "Public Support Provided for Internet Censorship" says a recent public opinion poll has shown that 63 percent of Russians support restrictions imposed by the state on the Internet; p 3 (424 words).

10. Georgy Dvali article headlined "Mikhail Saakashvili and Bidzina Ivanishvili Meet on Way to NATO" gives details of the meeting between Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and the winner of the parliamentary elections, Bidzina Ivanishvili; p 7 (588 words).

11. Georgy Dvali short interview with the candidate for the post of the Georgian minister for reintegration, Paata Zakareishvili, speaking on the plans to revise the law on occupied territories, affecting South Ossetia and Abkhazia; p 7 (267 words).

12. Yelena Chernenko and Ivan Safronov article headlined "Absence of Program" says Russia will no longer receive financing from the U.S.A. allocated for the scrapping of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. The end of this kind of cooperation is attributed to Moscow's decision to avoid the leak of secret information; p 7 (763 words).

13. Kirill Belyaninov article headlined "Mitt Romney Appoints America Commander-in-Chief" says Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has outlined his foreign policy plans: to arm the Syrian opposition, stop withdrawing troops from Afghanistan and show firmness in dealing with Russia over the European missile defense; p 8 (579 words).

14. Sergei Strokan article headlined "President Ahmadinejad Stricken by Sanctions" says Western economic pressure on Iran over its nuclear program has caused protests against the authorities, which resulted in a standoff between the parliament and President Ahmadinejad. The U.S.A. and the EU plan to increase pressure on Tehran; p 8 (736 words).

15. Maxim Yusin article in opinion column headlined "Price of Issue" says the policy of the economic sanctions pursued by the West may result in the overthrow of the present Iranian regime, as an increasing number of people are displeased with growing poverty; p 8 (371 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Sergei Kulikov and Mikhail Sergeyev article headlined "Medvedev's Government Being Stripped of Powers" says a new body is to be set up on the basis of the Russian Central Bank to control the financial market and banks; pp 1, 4 (897 words).

2. Tatyana Ivzhenko article headlined "Kiev Finds Unexpected Substitute for Russian Gas" says the construction of an LNG terminal in Ukraine is beginning to reduce the country's dependence on Russian gas; pp 1, 7 (1,118 words).

3. Alexandra Samarina article headlined "Political TV Kitchen Being Closed" says the management of the Top Secret TV channel has said that the Rostelecom communications company decided to stop cooperating with the channel, which will have to close by March 2013. Experts see political reasons behind the decision; pp 1, 3 (808 words).

4. Ivan Rodin article headlined "Neo-Trotskyites Found in CPRF" says former members of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation have criticized the party leadership over their support of bourgeois ideas; pp 1, 3 (728 words).

5. Viktor Myasnikov article headlined "Four Kilotons Explode Near Orenburg" gives details of the explosion of old ammunition prepared for scrapping near Orenburg; no human casualties have been reported; pp 1-2 (847 words).

6. Yury Paniyev article headlined "Term Fixed for Iranian Bomb" says the U.S. Institute of Science and International Security has published a report claiming that Iran will have enough enriched uranium to make a nuclear bomb in two months; pp 1, 8 (597 words).

7. Editorial headlined "About Content of Election System" says public opinion polls have shown that most Russians want to have an option to vote against everybody in their ballot papers despite the fact that the regulations for registering political parties were eased; p 2 (502 words).

8. Vladimir Mukhin article headlined "3rd Chechen War" looks at plans to use the Armed Forces in the fight against North Caucasus militants. The author acknowledges that the move may be effective, however, it will not improve the life of ordinary people in the region; p 3 (669 words).

9. Dmitry Orlov article headlined "Rating of Influence of Russian Regional Heads in September 2012" says Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin remains the most powerful regional head, meanwhile Chechen head Ramzan Kadyrov was listed second; p 6 (1,579 words).

10. Vladimir Skosyrev article headlined "London Mayor Becomes Idol of the British" comments on the growing popularity of London Mayor Boris Johnson as Prime Minister David Cameron is supported by fewer people due to social spending cuts; p 8 (537 words).

11. Nikolai Surkov article headlined "Romney to Keep World in Severity" says the U.S. Republican presidential candidate plans to pursue an aggressive foreign policy if he wins the election; p 8 (579 words).

Izvestia

1. Alexander Gudkov article headlined "Russia and Belarus on Verge of New Energy Conflict" says Moscow is displeased with Belarussian exporting of petrol products made out of Russian oil to the West without paying the relevant duties; pp 1-2 (1,026 words).

2. Anna Akhmadiyeva article headlined "Public TV to Be Financed at Expense of Social Programs" looks at the funding scheme for the newly set up Public TV; pp 1-2 (437 words).

3. Konstantin Volkov article headlined "North Korea Frightens U.S.A. With Non-Existent Missile" comments on Pyongyang's rhetoric claiming that the country has ballistic missiles capable of reaching the U.S. coast; p 7 (339 words).

4. Maxim Sokolov article headlined "Anatomic Theater" comments on a recent anti-opposition film by NTV and says that the facts stated there are true; p 9 (690 words).

5. Yury Matsarsky article headlined "Romney Promises Problems for Russia" comments on Mitt Romney's position against Russia and says that it is just a response to what Obama is saying, nothing more; p 7 (200 words).

Vedomosti

1. Timofei Dzyadko article headlined "I Am Friend of Russia" says co-owner of oil trader Gunvor Gennady Timchenko has made it up with Rosneft head Igor Sechin. The two business leaders are said to discuss cooperation plans; p 1 (619 words).

2. Margarita Lyutova article headlined "Ukraine Does Not Cost $160" says Moscow has proposed gas to Ukraine at the price that Belarus pays in exchange for Ukraine's joining the Customs Union with Russia. Kiev rejects the deal; pp 1, 3 (676 words).

3. Darya Ilyashenko et al. report headlined "Unattractive Strangers" says a recent public opinion poll has shown that only 29 percent of Muscovites would have voted for United Russia if the election is held on Oct. 14. The city's residents do not trust United Russia; p 1 (482 words).

4. Editorial headlined "Great Depression" says that low living standards in Russia have result in a large number of people suffering from depression; pp 1, 4 (540 words).

5. Maria Zheleznova article headlined "Help for Shakhov" says that three candidates running for mayor in the town of Khimki have unexpectedly withdrawn their candidacies. A pundit says that Oleg Shakhov, the acting mayor of Khimki, will not get their votes; p 2 (400 words).

6. Polina Khimshiashvili article headlined "Romney Rises in Debates" says that the most recent poll conducted in the U.S.A. has shown that Mitt Romney is more popular throughout the country than his opponent Barack Obama; p 2 (450 words).

7. Yevgenia Pismennaya and Dmitry Kazmin article headlined "No Money for President" says that according to the Russian Audit Chamber, not all president's orders can be executed due to a lack of money in the budget; p 3 (600 words).

8. Another editorial headlined "Budget Beauty" questions the Russian Finance Ministry's approach to choosing the most efficient regional budget policy as the ministry has chosen Chechnya; p 4 (351 words).

9. Olga Proskurnina interview with Sergei Kapkov, Moscow government minister in charge of culture, speaking on cultural programs in the city; p 6 (4,552 words).

10. Alexei Nikolsky article headlined "Baghdad Under Pantsir" says that the signing of big contracts to supply Russian arms to Iraq is the greatest achievement of Russia's Rosoboronexport in the Middle East since the collapse of the Soviet Union; p 2 (400 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Alena Uzbekova article headlined "Harvest Does Not Threaten" says Russian Agriculture Minister Nikolai Fedorov has spoken against an embargo on grain export despite the smaller harvest Russia has this year as compared to 2011; pp 1,4 (520 words).

2. Sergei Belov article headlined "Impetus for Baghdad" reports on Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who is visiting Russia; p 3 (365 words).

3. Alexei Chesnakov article headlined "Election Test" says the upcoming regional elections will show if the new regulations for registering political parties have proved to be effective; p 4 (391 words).

4. Fedor Lukyanov article headlined "Hugo and Misha: Two Poles" compares the recent election campaigns in Georgia and Venezuela; p 4 (684 words).

5. Ivan Yegorov article headlined "No Army Block Posts in Caucasus" says that although some sources have reported that the army took part in an anti-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus, no such issue was discussed at the meeting of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee on Oct. 9; p 2 (400 words).

6. Tamara Shkel article headlined "3 Plus 2" says that the State Duma has decided to check two deputies from the Communist Party, Vadim Potomsky and Anatoliy Lokot, for illegal business activities; p 5 (600 words).

7. Tatyana Mayorova article headlined "Bodies of Mistrust" says that the Bashkortostan's Prosecutor's Office has demanded that 200 Interior Ministry employees be dismissed as they falsified information on their income; p 7 (150 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Anastasia Rodionova article headlined "Non-Controlled Democracy" comments on the opposition activists' debates held on Dozhd TV channel as the opposition Coordination Council is being elected; pp 1-2 (647 words).

2. Alexander Minkin article headlined "Without Any Secrets" comments on the planned shutdown of the Top Secret cable TV channel; pp 1, 3 (514 words).

3. Andrei Yashlavsky article headlined "Medal for City Bucharest" comments on a scandal over the Russian Foreign Ministry's protest against naming a new metro station in St. Petersburg after Bucharest, as Romania, being a NATO member state, is said to pursue a wrong policy toward Russia; p 1 (507 words).

4. Yulia Kalinina article headlined "Does It Mean War?" says the use of the Armed Forces in anti-terrorist operations in the North Caucasus has shown that a war with separatists is not over and Moscow cannot take the security situation in the region under control; p 2 (453 words).

5. Yeva Merkacheva article headlined "Pussy Riot Filmed Again" says that a video showing the life of the girls behind bars may be an act of provocation, as it is prohibited to film in prison cells; p 4 (350 words).

RBK Daily

1. Anna Reznikova and Yaroslav Nikolayev article headlined "Monopoly Knows Its Interests" says that Russian state-controlled companies have managed to persuade the State Duma that the planned bill canceling beneficial taxes on property will result in a hike in the price on their products and services, which will affect ordinary people; that is why desputies decided to set aside the bill; pp 1-2 (600 words).

2. Ivan Petrov article headlined "Law-Enforcement Agencies Demand Money" says Russian law enforcement agencies that were promised a pay rise in 2013 have refused to cut 15 percent of their personnel as the Finance Ministry urges them to do; p 2 (650 words).

3. Yulia Yakovleva report "There Comes Mitvol" looks at the upcoming election of governor of Khimki, a Moscow region city, and says that three candidates have withdrawn from the election; p 2 (600 words).

4. Brief unattributed report says that the European Parliament has nominated the Pussy Riot group for the Sakharov Award; p 2 (50 words).

5. Katerina Kitayeva report "Vladimir Putin Like Wheel of Fortune" says that the special edition of NTV's "Central Television" program dedicated to Putin and his 60th birthday has not attracted much attention: only 19 percent of viewers in Moscow watched it; p 12 (250 words).

Novaya Gazeta

1. Alexei Polikovsky article headlined "Why They Don't Love Russia" says that people portraying opposition activist Sergei Udaltsov as Georgia's agent want to drive the country into the dead end of repression; p 15 (1,184 words).

2. Yulia Latynina article headlined "Lie Down and Rule" slams Putin's supporter, sociologist Olga Kryshtanovskaya, over her blog on her holidays in Cyprus, in which she mocked the people who have emigrated from Russia; p 7 (902 words).

3. Vasily Avchenko et al. report "Battles on 73 Fronts" looks at upcoming regional and municipal elections in some Russian regions; pp 2-3 (1,900 words).

4. Newspaper publishes a statement by slain journalist Anna Politkovskaya's children, Vera and Ilya. The statement is followed by the newspaper's comment on the criminal case opened over murder of the journalist; p 5 (600 words).

5. Yelena Masyuk interview headlined "Putin Will Not Die" with political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin, who comments on Putin's policies and the current situation in the country; pp 10-11 (2,100 words).

6. Maria Yepifanova report "To Convince Within 30 Seconds" looks at the election to the opposition Coordination Council; p 14 (1,000 words).

7. Yekaterina Fomina article headlined "Regards From 'Honored Serfs'" says that the company Rostelecom is terminating a contract with the TV channel Top Secret ahead of time allegedly because of its own financial difficulties; p 4 (350 words).

Noviye Izvestia

1. Vera Moslakova report "Filters Over Ballot Boxes" says that on the voting day of Oct. 14 it may happen that not all planned regional elections will be held in Russia; pp 1-2 (1,000 words).

2. Margarita Alyokhina interview headlined "We Have Never Had Tradition of Transparency of Authorities" with head of the Russian branch of Transparency International Yelena Panfilova; pp 1, 5 (1,000 words).

3. Gennady Petrov interview headlined "Our Small Boat Will Sail Its Own Way" with head of the TV and radio company MIR Radik Batyrshin, who speaks on the project proposed by the Kazakh leader to set up Eurasian TV; p 2 (600 words).

Moskovskiye Novosti

1. Alexandra Beluza et al. report "10 Regional Elections That Are Interesting to Watch" looks at the upcoming elections in some Russian regions; p 8 (600 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda

1. Yelena Krivyakina brief report "Medvedev Invited to Baghdad" looks at the negotiations between Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and his Iraqi counterpart Nuri al-Maliki on Oct. 9; p 2 (200 words).

2. Alexander Grishin report "Concert Tour for Pussy Riot" says that "show business freaks from the U.S.A." have promised the Pussy Riot group 600 million euros for a world tour; p 5 (500 words).

Tvoi Den

1. Darya Samotuga report "User, Show Your Face!" says that an initiative group from the State Duma committee on mass media has proposed the idea of open registration in social networks to increase users' responsibility; p 2 (400 words).

Krasnaya Zvezda

1. Yelizaveta Orlova report "About Afghanistan in Brussels" looks at the NATO defense ministers' meeting that opened in Brussels on Oct. 9; p 3 (800 words).

Oct. 10, 2012/BBC Monitoring/©BBC

Related articles:

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