What the Papers Say, Nov. 1, 2013

Kommersant

1. Ivan Buranov article headlined "State Traffic Safety Inspectorate distancing itself from exams" says that the government has outlined a new procedure for those willing to obtain a driver's licence: the right to issue a driver's license will partly be handed over to private companies, and migrants willing to work as drivers in Russia will have to pass Russian exams and get a Russian driver's license instead of their domestic one; pp 1, 3 (1,100 words).

2. Anna Balashova and Roman Rozhkov article headlined "Content of second-rate quality" says that mobile phone operators suggest that the law on communication be amended in order to enable operators to set tariffs depending on the 'weight' of traffic; pp 1, 13 (800 words).

3. Dmitry Butrin and Anastasia Manuylova article headlined "Lost profits as main punishment" says that the government has finally decided to ban relatives and business partners of organizers of state purchases to take part in tenders, thus actually admitting that it is officials rather than contractors who initiate corruption; pp 1, 6 (500 words).

4. Yury Barsukov article headlined "Gazprom gives in to Bulgaria" says that Gazprom has had to give Bulgaria a gas discount and allow other gas suppliers to start building part of the South Stream gas pipeline in Bulgaria; pp 1, 11 (550 words).

5. Zaur Farniyev article headlined "'We have to admit decision was made not here'" says that the North Ossetian parliament has voted for amendments to the republic's constitution to cancel the direct election of the republic's head, becoming the third republic in the North Caucasus where the head will be elected by deputies of the regional parliament instead; p 2 (500 words).

6. Natalya Gorodetskaya and Sergei Goryashko article headlined "International experts going at 'foreign agents'" says that experts of the Council of Europe concluded that the Russian law about NGOs does not comply with international standards. The head of the presidential human rights council Mikhail Fedotov stated yesterday that the law would be amended soon; p 2 (650 words).

7. Timur Samedov et al. report headlined "Arsen Kanokov chooses premier for himself" says that former mayor of the town of Nevinnomysk Konstantin Khramov has been appointed head of the Kabardino-Balkaria government and looks at the reasons behind the appointment; p 2 (400 words).

8. Andrei Kolesnikov article headlined "Gold athletes" gives an ironic account of President Putin's meeting with the winners of the World Combat Games; p 3 (700 words).

9. Kirill Belyaninov article headlined "U.S. Treasury goes to Russian stage" says that the U.S. Treasury has imposed sanctions against the Eurasian crime syndicate Brothers' Circle and Russian pop singer Grigory Leps over his alleged links with the crime group; p 4 (900 words).

10. Grigory Tumanov article headlined "Court strips news agency of right to speak" says that the Moscow City Court has revoked the license of the St. Petersburg news agency Rosbalt over complaints about video materials containing foul language. Pundits say that by doing so, the authorities are trying to introduce new game rules within the information field, or that the agency became a victim in a business conflict; p 3 (600 words).

11. Yury Senatorov article headlined "Gosstroy deputy head takes loan for arrest" says that deputy head of the Federal Agency for Construction and Housing and Utilities Sector (Gosstroi Rossii) Andrei Shishkin has been arrested on suspicion of bribe extortion; p 4 (600 words).

12. Oleg Rubnikovich article headlined "Russia getting ready for extradition of Uralkali head" says that a Moscow court has arrested in absentia Uralkali's director general Vladislav Baumgertner, who is currently under house arrest in Minsk, over the abuse of power; p 4 (400 words).

13. Tatyana Yedovina article headlined "Innovators to be forced to market" says that Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has pledged that the state will remain a mediator between the innovation companies and their clients until the market takes on these functions. Medvedev made these remarks speaking at the international forum Open Innovations in Moscow; p 6 (600 words).

14. Yelena Chernenko article headlined "Albania to accept Syrian poisons" says that Syrian chemical arsenals are most likely to be moved to Albania for destruction. Russia will contribute to the process with the allocation of some 2m dollars and assistance in transportation and safe elimination of the chemical weapons; p 7 (600 words).

15. Sergei Strokan article headlined "Indian mujahideens open electoral season" looks at a series of terrorist attacks against an opposition candidate running for the post of prime minister in India; p 7 (600 words).

16. Maria Yefimova article headlined "'Renaissance epoch coming to end in Tunisia" says that the decision of the Islamist government to resign has aggravated the political crisis in Tunisia; p 7 (550 words).

17. Anna Solodovnikova article headlined "Not enough benefits for Rosneft" says that the state-run oil company Rosneft is planning to ask for tax relief when developing oil in Sakhalin and the Sea of Japan; p 11 (450 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Lidia Orlova article headlined "Church choreographing 'symphony of ethnic groups'" says that at the World Russian People's Assembly Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All-Russia slammed the authorities for ignoring the problems of Russian people and the unwillingness to seek solutions for problems arising from excessive migration; pp 1-2 (900 words).

2. Vladimir Mukhin article headlined "New footholds of Russian defense" says that the Defense Ministry has drafted proposals to update the military infrastructure due to the setting up and updating new aviation bases in Central Asia, Belarus and the Arctic; pp 1-2 (600 words).

3. Ivan Rodin article headlined "Mass media outlets to acquire Most Chief Editor" says that United Russia has tabled a bill to oblige all printed media outlets to unite in a self-regulated organization and to create a certain regulator to enforce the editorial policy rules; pp 1, 3 (900 words).

4. Maria Bondarenko article headlined "They cannot divide Slavic people in Stavropol" says that the status of the Russians in Russia will become the main issue on the agenda at the Congress of Slavic People of Stavropol set for Nov. 2. Meanwhile, the forum of the Russian People's Assembly set for mid-November is going to demand that Stavropol be proclaimed the Stavropol Russian Republic and be withdrawn from the North Caucasus Federal District; pp 1, 6 (1,000 words).

5. Tatyana Ivzhenko article headlined "Klitschko replaces Tymoshenko" says that a scandal is brewing in Ukraine as it has turned out that recent amendments to the Tax Code will bar Vitaly Klitschko from running for presidency; pp 1, 7 (1,200 words).

6. Sergei Kulikov and Mikhail Sergeyev article headlined "Renovation revolution" looks at a new system of money collection for major repairs of households; pp 1, 4 (850 words).

7. Editorial headlined "Meeting of two non-cultures" recalls that the opponents of migration amnesty state that migrants do not respect our laws and behave defiantly. However, a positive system of cultural norms for migrants to follow does not exist in Russia; p 2 (500 words).

8. Alexei Gorbachev article headlined "Migrant with conviction to lose right for employment" says that the State Duma is to consider a bill to ban migrants with any criminal records to work in Russia; p 2 (600 words).

9. Yekaterina Trifonova article headlined "Three years for calls to 'take Russia apart'" says that the Communist faction has drafted a bill to impose criminal liability for public calls to divide Russia; p 3 (800 words).

10. Veniamin Popov article headlined "Carte blanche. Arab Spring destabilizes Middle East" looks at the situation in the Middle East, saying it remains unpredictable and tense; p 3 (800 words).

11. Article by Dmitry Orlov headlined "Hundred of Russia's leading politicians in October" features a rating of 100 most influential politicians in October; p 5 (650 words).

12. Oleg Vladykin article headlined "Russia's strategic reaction" looks at the outcome of the snap drill of Russian strategic nuclear forces; p 6 (700 words).

13. Vladislav Maltsev article headlined "Gods separate Russian march" says that columns of pagans and orthodox monarchists will take part in the Russian march, which is due to take place in Moscow on Nov. 4; p 6 (600 words).

13. Sokhbet Mamedov article headlined "Arabs making head scarves for Azeri women" says that Wahhibism is becoming a burning problem for Baku; p 8 (500 words).

14. Anton Khodasevich article headlined "Customs Union to blame for everything" says that a senior Belarusian official has blamed flaws in the Customs Union legislature for the troubles of the Belarusian economy; p 7 (600 words).

15. Svetlana Gamova article headlined "Ukraine to open consulate in Tiraspol" says that Kiev is willing to open a Ukrainian consulate in Tiraspol and regards the move as an important step towards the boosting of trust in the region; p 7 (400 words).

16. Yevgeny Grigoryev article headlined "Merkel's envoys at White House" says that European officials are not content with Washington's explanations on the tapping of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone and overall practices of U.S. special services in Germany; p 8 (600 words).

17. Yevgenia Novikova article headlined "Geneva-2 may be postponed till Christmas" says that a peace conference on the Syrian settlement may not take place in November as Russia and the U.S. cannot come to agreement on the make-up of the delegation from the Syrian opposition; p 8 (700 words).

18. Artur Blinov article headlined "Elizabeth II signs Royal Charter on press" says that the British queen has signed the Royal Charter re-imposing statutory regulation of the press in the United Kingdom; p 8 (400 words).

Vedomosti

1. Maxim Tovkaylo article headlined "Ultimatum from Sochi" says that investors in Olympic projects will not be able to pay off loans to VneshekonomBank (VEB) without restructuring and tax benefits. The government will have to humour them as investors' defaults are regarded as unacceptable; pp 1, 5 (600 words).

2. Yury Nekhaychuk and Dmitry Kazmin article headlined "Judge as menace to insurer" says that several insurance companies have complained to Central Bank head Elvira Nabiullina that courts tend to support insurance companies' clients in their disputes with insurance companies over obligatory motor insurance and hull insurance; pp 1, 14 (800 words).

3. Editorial headlined "Mystical Russia" says that some 46 percent of Russians believe in the existence of other-worldly forces; p 1 (400 words).

4. Alexei Nikolsky article headlined "Freedom for cooperation" says that Maxim Zakutaylo, who is being prosecuted as part of the Oboronservis criminal case, has been released from custody after signing an undertaking not to leave the country; p 3 (450 words).

5. Maxim Glikin article headlined "Russian march gets approval" says that the Russian march, annually organized by the nationalist movement activists, has gained wider support among the Russian population. According to the polls, the number of those supporting nationalist ideas has reached 45 percent, as opposed to 20 percent of those opposing it; p 3 (400 words).

6. Editorial headlined "Gamed of patriots" looks into the scandal at the Spartak vs. Shinnik football match, where football fans allegedly unfurled the Nazi flag; p 6 (400 words).

Izvestia

1. Sergei Podosenov article headlined "Insult of patriotic feelings to be equated to extremism" says that A Just Russia party has drafted a bill protecting patriots' feelings against provocations and insults aimed against Russia. The bill envisages up to 5 years behind the bars; pp 1, 3 (400 words).

2. Anna Kaledina and Tatyana Shirmanova interview with the head of Russia's Pension Fund Anton Drozdov on the ongoing pension reform, which has triggered much confusion in the society; pp 1, 5 (2,000 words).

3. Ivan Cheberko article headlined "Rocket engines fly up to Security Council" says that the Russian Security Council plans to make a decision on supplying the U.S. with Russian rocket engines by the end of the year; pp 1,3 (700 words).

4. Vladimir Zykov article headlined "Spy who returned to work" says that former U.S. security service employee Edward Snowden has found a job and will work in the support team of one of the Russian websites as of Nov. 1; pp 1, 3 (400 words).

5. Dmitry Yevstifeyev and Pavel Kochegarov article headlined "Grigory Leps let down by acquaintance with Vadik Bely" looks into the situation around popular Russian singer Grigory Leps, who was blacklisted by the U.S. authorities over his alleged links to an international crime syndicate; pp 1, 4 (750 words).

6. Natalya Bashlykova and Sergei Podosenov article headlined "Federation Council to edit laws on media" says that a temporary commission within the Federation Council has been set up in order to improve the laws regulating the media. The move has been proposed by journalists, who believe the monitoring of all the laws regarding their professional activities will help protect their interests; p 2 (1,000 words).

7. Konstantin Volkov article headlined "Kurds blame Syrian Islamists for chemical attack" says that the Syrian Kurds have put blame for an alleged recent chemical attack in the north-east of Syria on the Daash anti-government group of militants.If the use of chemical weapons is confirmed, it will mean previous attacks might have been falsely attributed to the Syrian President Bashar Assad, the paper says; p 6 (400 words).

8. Kirill Benediktov article headlined "Way we could build East European Union" looks into the prospects of Russian-Ukrainian relations; p 8 (1,000 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Mikhail Falaleyev article headlined "Law on weapons" looks at new rules for arms circulation; pp 1, 5 (800 words).

2. Tatyana Zykova interview with Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov headlined "Billion for breakthrough" where he says that the government will allocate over 1 billion rubles to help business conduct its own research; pp 1, 4 (1,400 words).

3. Valery Vyzhutovich article headlined "Dream remains out of reach" comments on the outcomes of the Georgian presidential election and prospects for the country; p 3 (800 words).

4. Yelena Novoselova interview with Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky headlined "Speaking about art" where he speaks about the idea of patriotism and how the ministry promotes it; p 6 (1,800 words).

5. Marina Aleshina and Timofey Borisov article headlined "Leps linked to mafia" says that the U.S. Treasury has banned Russian pop singer Grigory Leps from entering the U.S. over his alleged links with the Eurasian syndicate Brothers' Circle; p 7 (600 words).

6. Ivan Yegorov article headlined "They get black spot" says that the Moscow City Court has revoked the licence of the Rosbalt news agency upon the application of the communications watchdog Roskomnadzor; p 7 (600 words).

7. Anna Fedyakina article headlined "Defense attorney for himself" looks at the situation in Egypt ahead of the trial of former Egyptian President Muhammad Morsi; p 8 (550 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Yeva Merkacheva article headlined "Grigory Leps loses in mafia game" comments on the decision of the U.S. Treasury to impose sanctions, including a ban to enter the U.S., on several Russian citizens for alleged links with the Brothers' Circle criminal syndicate; pp 1, 3 (400 words).

2. Alexander Minkin article headlined "Small full confession" comments on President Putin's statement that the head of a corrupt official should bear personal liability; pp 1-2 (350 words).

3. Igor Karmazin article headlined "Train of self-affirmation" says that hooligans' attack on the train heading from Moscow to Dushanbe may result in a large-scale scandal between Moscow and Tajikistan; pp 1-2 (300 words).

4. Olga Bozhyeva article headlined "One hour for war" gives account of the snap drill of the Russian nuclear triad; p 2 (400 words).

5. Marina Lemutkina and Natalya Vedeneyeva article headlined "Sentence for Russian Academy of Sciences delayed" says that President Putin has imposed a one-year-long moratorium on all property and personnel changes in the Russian Academy of Sciences; p 2 (300 words).

6. Natalya Rozhkova article headlined "Rosbalt: mate in three moves" says that the Rosbalt news agency has fallen the first victim to the law banning the use of foul language in mass media outlets; p 2 (400 words).

7. Marina Ozerova article headlined "They want to force mass media outlets into organization" says that a United Russia lawmaker has tabled a bill to oblige mass media outlets to join a self-regulated organization and looks at the consequences for the freedom of speech; p 2 (400 words).

8. Andrei Yashlavsky article headlined "Singer ascribed to Brothers' Circle" says that the U.S. Treasury suspects Russian singer Grigory Leps of transporting money for a criminal boss of the Brothers' Circle criminal syndicate; p 3 (600 words).

9. Matvey Ganapolsky article headlined "Time to stop hunting migrants" slams the war against migrants law-enforcers unleashed after mass disturbances in Moscow's Biryulyovo district; p 3 (600 words).

10. Natalya Rozhkova interview with chairman of the Islamist Committee of Russia Geydar Dzhemal and chairman of the National Democratic Party Vladimir Tor headlined where they offer their opinion on mass disturbances in Moscow's Biryulyovo district; p 4 (1,700 words).

RBC Daily

1. Gleb Kostarev article headlined "Rebranding for Russian mafia" says the U.S. law-enforcers are concerned with Russian criminal groups, and U.S. President Barack Obama has dubbed the Russian mafia the Brother's Circle; pp 1, 4 (500 words).

Novaya Gazeta

1. Irek Murtazin article headlined "Puff" says the so-called Yves Rocher criminal case against Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is falling apart; pp 1-2; (1,000 words).

2. Pavel Felgengauer article headlined "Which combat formation to choose?" says the first year of Sergei Shoigu in the office of the defense minister was full of publicity stunts; p 5 (800 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda

1. Unattributed article headlined "What do you think of Leps news?" features comments by notable Russians on allegations, voiced by the U.S., that Russian popular singer Grigory Leps has been connected with organized crime groups; p 3 (300 words).

2. Unattributed interview with the chairman of the Russian State Duma, Sergei Naryshkin, speaking on moral and spiritual values ahead of the Russian Unity Day, marked on Nov. 4 p 11 (900 words).

3. The second part of the Alexander Milkus interview with Russian criminal law expert Igor Sundyev, who says the Russian strategies towards migration issues should be changed; pp 12-13 (1,400 words).

4. Israel Shamir article headlined "Day of zombies" says the U.S. civilization is spreading disbelief in eternal life and fear of death; p 14 (500 words).

5. Yelena Lapteva article headlined "U.S. accuse singer Grigory Leps of links with mafia" says Russian pop singer Grigory Leps is outraged by the U.S. financial sanctions against him; p 3 (400 words).

6. Alexander Gamov interview with lawmaker and singer Iosif Kobzon about the situation with Leps; p 32 (200 words).

7. Alexander Gamov interview with the Russian president's spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying the state will defend the interests of Leps; p 32 (100 words).

Krasnaya Zvezda

1. Sergei Pechurov article headlined "They do not like truth seekers in U.S." comments what on what has been described as defects of the U.S. military machine; pp 20-21 (1,500 words).