What the Papers Say, Feb. 26, 2014

Kommersant

1. Valeria Kozlova et al. article headlined "All money into house" says wealthy Russians are opting to invest into property as the ruble weakens and the Russian Central Bank continues to shut down failed banks; pp 1, 8 (743 words).

2. Kirill Belyaninov and Yelena Chernenko article headlined "Experience of working in Ukraine welcomed" discusses the most likely candidates for the post of U.S. Ambassador to Russia that falls vacant today; three of who have served as ambassadors to Ukraine; pp 1, 3 (782 words).

3. Vladislav Trifonov and Oleg Rubnikovich article called "General collects evidence for his arrest" reports the details of a case against Boris Kolesnikov, deputy head of the main directorate of economic security and prevention of corruption at the Interior Ministry, who was arrested on Feb. 25. He is believed to be involved into an unlawful investigation against a high-ranking officers of the Federal Security Service (FSB); pp 1, 4 (903 words).

4. Alexei Shapovalov et al. article headlined "Shock therapy to be prescribed for Kiev" looks at the state of Ukraine's economy, says the IMF might provide loans on the condition that the new Ukrainian government carry out risky "shock therapy" reforms; pp 1, 6 (1,596 words).

5. Andrei Samarin article headlined "Taxmen announce collection" says the Federal Tax Service collected 3.4 percent more taxes in 2013 than 2012 despite an economic slowdown; p 2 (577 words).

6. Anna Pushkarskaya article headlined "Fines when possible" says the Constitutional Court has mitigated rules that set the minimum fine for administrative offenses by businesses and organizations at 100,000 rubles ($2,800). Courts have been allowed to levy smaller fines when appropriate; p 2 (422 words).

7. Maxim Ivanov and Yelena Chernenko article headlined "Deputies switch over to Ukrainian" summarizes the response of Russian lawmakers to the developments in Ukraine; p 3 (480 words).

8. Oleg Rubnikovich article headlined "Waiting list for servicemen's apartments lines up into accusation" provides an update on proceedings in connection with a criminal investigation into the theft of 33 municipal flats that were allocated for families of army officers; p 5 (476 words).

9. Sergei Strokan article headlined "Maidan moves into offices" describes the likely makeup of Ukraine's new coalition government that is to be formed on Feb. 27 ; p 6 (585 words).

10. Yury Barsukov and Anna Solodovnikova article called "Serfhood for petrol" says the Energy Ministry is going to impose quotas on the export of petrol and diesel fuel to have more control over rising fuel prices; p 8 (480 words).

Vedomosti

1. Margarita Papchenkova article called "Disclose and get it" says the Finance Ministry wants companies to name their dividend recipients abroad to be able to claim tax relief as part of double taxation agreements; pp 1, 4 (500 words).

2. Editorial called "Ukraine is not Finland" argues that Zbigniew Brzezinski's idea that Ukraine should build its relations with Russia as Finland did with the U.S.S.R. will not work, primarily because of the deplorable state of Ukraine's economy; pp 1, 6 (500 words).

3. Polina Khimshiashvili article headlined "Government to be divided among three" reports on the developments in Ukraine where the parliament failed to appoint a new prime minister; p 2 (650 words).

4. Svetlana Bocharova et al. article headlined "Users not to worry" says the State Duma's information policy committee is to revise a bill on internet content that was tabled as part of an anti-terror package. Some of its provisions might be amended so as not to affect ordinary users; p 2 (500 words).

5. Maria Zheleznova article headlined "To go to jail for Bolotnaya prisoners" weighs the probability of Alexei Navalny actually going to jail instead of serving a suspended sentence because of his arrest at a rally in Moscow in support of the Bolotnaya Square defendants; p 3 (600 words).

6. Yekaterina Kravchenko and Margarita Lyutova article headlined "Europe no helper to Russia" says that despite positive economic growth results in the Eurozone in 2013 and upbeat forecasts for 2014, Russia is unlikely to see its exports to Europe grow; p 4 (600 words).

7. Editorial headlined "Not loved, but our own" tries to understand why 31 percent of respondents recently polled by Levada Center said that the Soviet economic model was the best one; p 6 (400 words).

8. Editorial by influential Ukrainian magnate Viktor Pinchuk headlined "Ukrainian leaders should grow up" addresses the current situation in Ukraine; p 7 (600 words).

9. Op-ed by Sergei Karaganov headlined "To give back future to Russia" lists Russia's economic and social problems that need to be addressed urgently; pp 6, 7

10. Valery Kodachigov and Anna Afanasyeva article headlined "Union of television and communications" says that several major Russian cable and broadcast television operators are to form a group with media companies; p 16 (500 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Alexandra Samarina article called "Vulnerable witnesses" says the Interior Ministry's witness protection program might be reformed and looks at the main challenges that the directorate has been facing; pp 1-2 (1,021 words).

2. Alexei Gorbachev article entitled "Nemtsov and Navalny jailed again" says Alexei Navalny and Boris Nemtsov have been ordered to spend seven and 10 days in jail correspondingly, as have many other people who were arrested on Moscow's Manezh Square when they attempted to protest against prison terms for the defendants of the Bolotnaya Square case; pp 1, 3 (849 words).

3. Alina Terekhova article called "BRICS membership no longer prestigious" considers the conclusions of macro-economic research company Capital Economics that says economic growth in the BRICS counties is slowing down, but the group might continue as a political unity; pp 1, 5 (753 words).

4. Svetlana Gamova article headlined "Bucharest stands up for Russian language in Ukraine" says the Romanian Foreign Ministry has criticized the Ukrainian parliament for revoking a law on regional languages. Although the abolition of the law mainly affects native speakers of Russia, Romania seeks to protect the interests of ethnic Romanians living in Ukraine, experts say; pp 1, 7 (768 words).

5. Tatyana Ivzhenko article called "Third siege of Sevastopol" provides an update on recent developments in Ukraine; pp 1, 7 (1,520 words).

6. Anna Gushchina article entitled "London and Edinburgh quarrel about oil and gas" reports on British Prime Minister David Cameron's visit to an oil and gas rig in the North Sea to reiterate his point about Scotland staying in the United Kingdom. Pundit Konstantin Voronov says London is using "administrative resources" to prevent Scotland from voting for its independence; pp 1, 8 (414 words).

7. Editorial headlined "Maidan lessons for Moscow" says Moscow proved "unprepared for changes in Ukraine", divides from Soviet republics into three groups, with Moldova, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan having "a low factor of safety" in terms of political instability; p 2 (648 words).

8. Ivan Rodin article headlined "Fighting pirates across Runet" considers a proposal by deputy speaker of the Russian State Duma Sergei Zheleznyak to extend anti-piracy legislation to all types of content found online. Experts say Russia has to meet its WTO obligations, but, on the other hand, the new rules, if hastily approved, could be used for tackling "improper" citizen activism; p 3 (632 words).

9. Sergei Safronov column headlined "Universities working for WTO" reports on the presentation of a book called "Connecting to Global Markets" that was compiled by university professors participating in the WTO Chairs Program; p 3 (800 words).

10. Oleg Vladykin article headlined "Voyevodas will survive Dnipropetrovsk drama" voices confidence that Russia should not have any problems maintaining its arsenal of Ukraine-made RS-20 Voyevoda intercontinental ballistic missiles despite the turmoil in the neighboring country; p 4 (424 words).

11. Anastasia Bashkatova article headlined "Russia cannot escape another pension reform" says the All-Russia People's Front is going to launch a campaign to educate people about a new pension system that comes into force in 2015. Meanwhile, the World Bank warns European countries and emerging markets in Central Asia are to face a deficit of pension funds; p 5 (834 words).

12. Svetlana Gavrilina article headlined "Russia Will Be Free slogan deemed to be anti-government" reports on how volunteers and opposition activists were helping those who were arrested at a rally in St. Petersburg against prison terms for the Bolotnaya Square case defendants; p 6 (456 words).

13. Alexander Chernyavsky article entitled "Siberian regiment to help Crimea" mulls the probability that a volunteer regiment that is being formed in Krasnoyarsk will actually make it to Crimea to protect the interest of Russians there; p 6 (445 words).

Izvestia

1. Tatyana Shirmanova and Anastasia Aleskeyevskikh article headlined "Demand for currency has doubled" says Russians have started buying more foreign currency; pp 1, 4 (600 words).

2. Alexandra Bayazitova article headlined "Four trillion invested badly" says that the majority of investments made by Russian state companies over the past several years have yielded no profits; pp 1, 4 (630 words).

3. Pundit Johan Baeckman editorial headlined "'Barbarossa 2': an attack against Holy Russia" says that the EU and the U.S. are carrying out a plan to "destroy Ukraine and Russia"; p 1 (400 words).

4. Dmitry Runkevich and Yelena Malay article headlined "State Duma and Public Chamber to monitor Ukrainian elections" says that Russian official delegations will monitor the next presidential election in Ukraine; p 3 (800 words).

5. Svetlana Povoraznyuk article headlined "Food becoming more expensive due to ruble's weakening" says that prices for meat and vegetables in Russia have grown by up to 25 percent due to the weakening ruble; p 6 (900 words).

6. Pavel Kochegarov article headlined "Metro shooters want to capitalize on their fame" says the father and son who shot at a migrant on the Moscow underground in November 2013 want to buy rights to the image of a man shooting in a metro which has become widespread after the incident; p 7 (550 words).

7. Yanina Sokolovskaya interview with leader of Ukraine's UDAR party Vitaly Klitschko headlined "We will review the law on languages" addresses Klitschko's short-term plans; p 8 (400 words).

8. Maria Gorkovskaya interview with the head of the city council of Simferopol (in Ukraine's Crimea) headlined "The most pressing issue for Crimeans now is where to get weapons" outlines current anti-Maidan sentiments in Crimea; p 8 (350 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Yury Snegirev report headlined "Lavra shuts itself away from Maidan" gives a heartfelt account of the author's visit to the Kiev-Pechersk cathedral Lavra that Maidan activists attempted to seize on Sunday, Feb. 23. The cathedral was defended by Afghan war veterans; pp 1, 8 (737 words).

2. Kira Latukhina article headlined "World discovers Russia" reports the highlights of President Vladimir Putin's news conference following the Sochi Olympics; p 2 (683 words).

3. Yelena Novoselova article headlined "They do not speak Russian" says the language has turned into a political marker in Ukraine where some 40 percent of the population use it for everyday communication and the new leadership should use common sense when dealing with this sensitive issue; p 7 (981 words).

4. Yevgeny Shestakov article headlined "State orgy" looks at the political turmoil in Ukraine, where the Rada is struggling to form a new cabinet; p 8 (841 words).

5. Mikhail Shvydkoy column headlined "Love efforts" reports on the opening of the UK-Russia Year of Culture in the British parliament; p 9 (748 words).

6. Vladimir Bogdanov article headlined "Anonymous money not accepted" summarizes an international anti-drug conference that took place in Moscow focusing on initiatives to curb anonymous money transfers put forward by Russia's anti-drug service chief Viktor Ivanov; p 17 (550 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Mikhail Rostovsky article headlined "Crimea is not worth war" is a rhetorical piece that summarizes the situation in Ukraine's Crimea arguing that any effort on Russia's part to gain control of Crimea would lead to war; pp 1, 3 (600 words).

2. Mikhail Zubov interview with Russian senior parliament member Leonid Slutsky, who is currently visiting Ukraine's Crimea, headlined "Will Russia protect Ukrainian 'Berkut'?" outlines the purpose of the current visit by a delegation of Russian deputies to Crimea; p 3 (500 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda

1. Alexander Kots article headlined "Ukrainian Taliban" says that Soviet monuments are being destroyed in Ukraine amid protests; pp 1, 6 (620 words).

2. Alexei Ovchinnikov article headlined "Sevastopol waiting for 'armored trains of friendship' with rebels from Lviv and Kiev" says that Russian deputies have paid a visit to Ukraine's Sevastopol; p 4 (710 words).

Trud

1. Alexander Protsenko article headlined "There is no way to run" says that Ukraine is on the brink of bankruptcy while the European Union and the U.S. are in no haste to provide financial help to the country; pp 1, 3 (700 words).

RBK Daily

1. Alexander Litoy article headlined "Conditionally not to change" says that opposition leader and anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny has been arrested for seven days for allegedly disobeying police at a rally in support of Bolotnaya mass riots case defendants. Lawyers say that this arrest should not become a reason to change Navalny's suspended sentence he got in the so-called Kirovles case into a real prison term; p 2 (400 words).

Noviye Izvestia

1. Yana Sergeieva article headlined "Chronicles of Ukraine's time of troubles" says that there are serious doubts that the Ukrainian opposition will manage to form a new coalition government; p 2 (500 words).

Novaya Gazeta

1. Vladimir Pastukhov article headlined "Authorities' arrhythmia" comments on the latest developments in Ukraine and says that Yulia Tymoshenko is the only politician in Ukraine capable of leading the country out of crisis; pp 7-8 (1,600 words).

Argumenty i Fakty

1. Unattributed article headlined "Collapse and maiden name?" provides experts' forecasts on how the situation in Ukraine will develop; 12 (400 words).

Feb. 26, 2014 / BBC Monitoring / ©BBC