What the Papers Say, Nov. 5, 2013

Kommersant

1. Dmitry Butrin article headlined "Service done to competition" comments on amendments to the law on natural monopolies drafted by the Federal Tariff Service. The notion "natural monopoly" concerns services, not goods in the bill. The service wants to get a right to veto all deals by Russian monopolies; pp 1, 6 (948 words).

2. Irina Nagornykh and Natalya Gorodetskaya article headlined "There will be more national than regional in Regional Development Ministry" says the Regional Development Ministry is, in fact, turning into the ethnic relations ministry which was disbanded back in 2001; pp 1-2 (772 words).

3. Sergei Sobolev article headlined "Mikhail Lesin gets higher rating" says that the new head of the holding company Gazprom-media, Mikhail Lesin, has come up with an initiative to choose the company to measure television audiences, which would be trusted by all television stations. The state television and radio company VGTRK and Channel One supported the idea; pp 1, 12 (813 words).

4. Kirill Melnikov article headlined "Access to Vietnamese market bumps into ESPO [oil pipeline]" says that the companies Gazpromneft and Rosneft are fighting for the control over a Vietnamese oil refinery. Rosneft has advantages as it has monopolized oil supplies via the East Siberia Pacific Ocean (ESPO) pipeline and Vietnam demands that the purchaser of the refinery supply it with oil; pp 1, 11 (635 words).

5. Petr Netreba et al. report headlined "To have a grudge" says the construction lobby has succeeded in setting up the Construction Ministry. However its new head Mikhail Men is facing a challenging task; p 2 (677 words).

6. Roman Rozhkov report "Reference to Roskomnadzor sent to European Court" says that the head of the association of Internet publishers, whose website has been groundlessly blocked by the Federal Service for Supervision in Telecommunications, Information Technology and Mass Communication (Roskomnadzor), has filed a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights; p 3 (750 words).

7. Ilya Barabanov and Ivan Safronov article headlined "Missed border checkpoints" says that the dismissal of the head of the Federal Agency for State Border Development and Maintenance (Rosgranitsa), Dmitry Bezdelov, has shown that the authorities have started tackling the problem of border maintenance; p 4 (1,982 words).

8. Vyacheslav Kozlov et al. report headlined "Lyublino fails to grow into Biryulyovo" says nationalist marches held on Nov. 4 have not resulted in any clashes with the police or in public disturbances; p 5 (523 words).

9. Galina Dudina article headlined "U.S. and Germany to stop spying on each other" says Germany and the U.S. are ready to sign an agreement on the inadmissibility of mutual spying. However, Berlin attempts to involve U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden in the work on the agreement. This may affect the chances of the final document being signed by the both parties; p 8 (434 words).

10. Pavel Tarasenko article headlined "Japan offers draw to Russia" says that Russian and Japanese foreign and defense ministers have met in Tokyo and agreed to develop bilateral relations regardless of the Kuril Island problem; p 8 (661 words).

11. Georgy Dvali article headlined "Prime minister-manager found for Georgia" says Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili is leaving politics and has named his successor; p 8 (558 words).

12. Article by Alexander Karavayev, expert from the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in opinion column headlined "Price of issue" looks at the results of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's rule; p 8 (415 words).

Vedomosti

1. Vladimir Shtanov and Vitaliy Petlevoy article headlined "Renault uses half of capacity" says Renault is not going to manufacture as many vehicles in Russia as it can. The company plans to make around 240,000 cars a year, while experts believe its capacities would make it possible to manufacture 500,000 vehicles annually; pp 1, 12 (705 words).

2. Editorial headlined "Ministry of warmth" says new Construction and Public Utilities Minister Mikhail Men is facing a challenging task as heating in winter remains one of the most serious problems in Russia; pp 1, 6 (397 words).

3. Roman Dorokhov and Dmitry Kazmin article headlined "Tanks in bank" says the developer of the World of Tanks game, the Cypriot company Wargaming, will pay 40 million euros for a 30 percent stake in the Cypriot bank Hellenic; pp 1, 24 (764 words).

4. Another editorial headlined "Sochi model" says the construction of the Sochi Olympics facilities by state-controlled companies has shown inefficiency of their work and huge budget spending; p 6 (350 words).

5. Vladimir Shtanov interview with Igor Komarov, deputy head of the Roskosmos Russian space agency, speaking on his previous work for the AvtoVAZ car manufacturer and plans for the new post; p 8 (4,646 words).

6. Maxim Glikin report "Heavy chains won't fall" says that the businessmen convicted for large-scale embezzlement may not be amnestied; p 2 (550 words).

7. Maria Zheleznova report "Security methods of monitoring" says that representatives of security and defense agencies have received a majority in the Moscow commission overseeing the observance of human rights at remand centers; p 3 (650 words).

8. Maria Zheleznova report in the column "Quote of the week" looks at Russian popular singer Grigory Leps, who has been blacklisted by U.S. authorities over his alleged links to a criminal group; p 7 (450 words).

9. Maxim Glikin report "Prefect answers for Biryulyovo" says that Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has sacked the head of the city's Southern Administrative Area and the head of the municipal council of Moscow's district of southern Biryulyovo; p 3 (550 words).

Izvestia

1. Anastasia Kashevarova and Dmitry Runkevich article headlined "Gennady Zyuganov asks Kremlin for 'red' region" says that having lost control over the Vladimir region, communist leader Gennady Zyuganov is expected to ask President Vladimir Putin to support the party candidates in regional elections; pp 1-2 (650 words).

2. Pavel Kochegarov and Andrei Gridasov article headlined "British American Tobacco made pay taxes" says the Russian branch of the world's largest cigarette manufacturer, British American Tobacco, has lost its appeal in the arbitration court against tax charges; pp 1, 4 (658 words).

3. Yelena Teslova report "Russian march does not need stage" says that the organizers of the Russian march expected acts of provocation and terrorist attacks during the event carried out in Moscow on Nov. 4. Riot police quickly stopped such attempts, article says; pp 1, 3 (800 words).

4. Alena Sivkova and Dmitry Runkevich article headlined "Regional Development Ministry to deal with ethnic relations in earnest" reports on distribution of duties between the Regional Development Ministry and the newly set up Construction and Public Utilities Ministry; p 2 (725 words).

5. Anastasia Kashevarova and Yelena Malay article headlined "Those unhappy with Navalny may go to Prokhorov" says that while one of the opposition leaders Alexei Navalny has expressed support of the idea to hold nationalist rallies on Nov. 4, billionaire and politician Mikhail Prokhorov has said his participation in this kind of rallies is unacceptable; p 3 (877 words).

6. Yelena Nikitina report "Number of conscription dodgers halves over year" says that experts are divided over the reason for positive dynamic in the number of men who try to avoid military service; p 5 (450 words).

7. Darya Tsoy and Tatyana Baykova article headlined "Romania chooses U.S. as its political ally" says that part of the European missile defense system is being built in Romania and features a Russian expert's comment; p 7 (502 words).

8. Maria Gorkovskaya report "Bundestag deputy says what Snowden wrote to German chancellor" says that a German deputy has said that fugitive U.S. intelligence leaker Edward Snowden is willing to give evidence in Berlin about eavesdropping on Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone conversations; p 7 (1,100 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Vladimir Barshev article headlined "Fortune on two wheels" reviews amendments to the law on traffic safety, which has come into effect in Russia; pp 1, 13 (1,100 words).

2. Tatyana Zykova et al. report headlined "SIM, SIM, open door" looks at the laws recently signed by the president which affect mobile phone users, small businesses and alcohol sellers; pp 1, 6 (1,900 words).

3. Yulia Krivoshapko interview "Ships sink treasury" with Federal Property Management Agency deputy head Igor Babushkin speaking on proposals to amend the fisheries law to save budget money currently used to keep ships confiscated from foreign poachers; pp 1, 5 (1,200 words).

4. Mikhail Falaleyev article headlined "What is rain for Russians" says nationalists cancelled their authorized rally in Moscow on Nov. 4 due to rain; however a rally in Lyublino was staged as planned. Article features a comment by a Mayor's office official; p 2 (1,000 words).

5. Leonid Radzikhovsky report "November idea" looks at Russia's national holiday marked on Nov. 4 ; p 3 (800 words).

6. Susanna Alperina interview with Nikolay Svanidze, a prominent journalist, historian and member of the human rights council, who speaks about his new radio program; p 7 (350 words).

7. Anna Roze article headlined "Snowden writes letters" says that Der Spiegel has published a manifesto by U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden, in which he accuses the U.S. and the UK of global cyber spying; p 8 (900 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Dmitry Popov article headlined "At what price do you, lady, love minister?" reports on an open letter by former Defense Ministry official Yevgenia Vasilyeva facing trial; pp 1-2 (500 words).

2. Mikhail Zubov article headlined "March of morbid people" reports on a nationalist rally in Lyublino and notes that participants in the rally were boorish; pp 1-2 (350 words).

3. Mikhail Rostovsky article headlined "Sleeping soldier Snowden" says U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden continues to inflict harm on the U.S. image despite the fact that Putin has made it clear before granting him asylum that he should not do so; pp 1-2 (600 words).

RBK Daily

1. Alexander Litoy article headlined "Monarchists, skinheads and Cossacks" reports on right-wingers' rallies in Moscow on Nov. 4 ; pp 1-2 (400 words).

2. Unattributed article headlined "Yevgenia Vasilyeva: Oboronservis case filed under contract" says key suspect in a high-profile corruption case Yevgenia Vasilyeva has stated that she is not guilty and that investigators have tried to blackmail her; p 2 (300 words).

Noviye Izvestia

1. Diana Yevdokimova article headlined "No victory, no participation" says most Russians could not afford visiting the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics; pp 1, 5 (800 words).

2. Yekaterina Dyatlovskaya interview with a high-profile member of the A Just Russia party, Oxana Dmitryeva, about various factions within the party; pp 1-2 (1,000 words).

3. Artem Lunkov article headlined "Who marches in row?" says a march of nationalists took place in Moscow on Nov. 4 ; p 2 (300 words).

Moskovskiye Novosti

1. Alexandra Beluza article headlined "Forcing to vote" says the authorities are looking for ways to increase voters' turnout; pp B2-B3 (1,200 words).

2. Alexandra Beluza article headlined "Wider front" says the All-Russia People's Front is recruiting non-partisan figures; p B4 (600 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda

1. Vladimir Vorsobin article headlined "Russian March washed away by Moscow rain" reports on right-wingers' rallies in Moscow on Nov. 4 ; pp 1, 5 (700 words).

2. Alexander Grishin article headlined "Yevgenia Vasilyeva: 'I am not guilty!'" says the key suspect in the so-called Oboronservis corruption case, Yevgenia Vasilyeva, has stated that she is not guilty and that investigators have tried to blackmail her; p 6 (400 words).

3. Sergei Vladimirov article headlined "Yves Rocher case — under public control!" says lawyers of people tried for economic offences find a suspended sentence against opposition politician Alexei Navalny too soft; p 8 (600 words),

4. Alisa Krasovskaya article headlined "Persuading Ukraine not to rush" says European integration may destroy Ukraine's hi-tech industries; p 9 (300 words).

Tvoi Den

1. Unattributed article headlined "Taking up defense" says Moscow official Viktor Legavin, who was sacked over ethnic clashes in the city's Biryulyovo district, has been offered a post at the Defense Ministry; p 2 (100 words).