What the Papers Say, Apr. 17, 2014

Kommersant

1. Nikolai Sergeiev et al. report headlined "Judges to remain in power" says that the incumbent heads of the Supreme Court and the City Court are most likely to retain their respective posts; pp 1, 3 (808 words).

2. Ilya Barabanov article headlined "East faces transitory forces" says that Ukrainian servicemen heading to the airfield near Kramatorsk gave up weapons after talking with pro-Russian activists; pp 1, 8 (887 words).

3. Dmitry Butrin article headlined "Budget rule wrong from all sides" says that at a meeting to discuss the country's strategy of socio-economic development, the Finance Ministry and the Economic Development Ministry put forward opposite strategies for 2014-15; pp 1, 6 (780 words).

4. Yelizaveta Kuznetsova and Yegor Popov article headlined "Dobrolet sent to Sheremetyevo" says that despite all the efforts, Aeroflot has failed to reach agreement with Domodedovo and Vnukovo Airports on lowcoster Dobrolet ; pp 1, 11 (558 words).

5. Irina Nagronykh and Maxim Ivanov article headlined "Crimea, Sevastopol divided in unusual proportion" looks at how parliaments in Crimea and Sevastopol are to be formed; p 2 (623 words).

6. Natalya Gorodetskaya article headlined "Private security firms attached to public events" gives details of legislative amendments tabled by LDPR lawmaker Andrei Lugovoy to allow local authorities to hire private security firms to maintain public order, including at rallies; p 2 (500 words).

7. Maxim Ivanov and Taisia Bekbulatova article headlined "Civil Platform asks not to filter too much" says that regional and municipal lawmakers from the Civil Platform party have spoken against additional filters at elections to regional legislative assemblies; p 2 (451 words).

8. Sergei Goryashko article headlined "Crimea's incorporation 25 percent incontestable" looks at a poll conducted by the All-Russia Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM), which shows that 25 percent of respondents think that those who do not approve of Crimea's incorporation into Russia should be reproached or even punished; p 3 (396 words).

9. Article by former leader of the Civil Platform party Mikhail Prokhorov headlined "New economic policy 2.0: About defense and attack" regards Russia's current confrontation with the West as an opportunity to solve numerous burning economic problems and make a breakthrough; part two of the article will be published later; p 7 (2,844 words).

10. Olga Kuznetsova interview with Russia's permanent representative to the OSCE Andrei Kelin headlined "'We call on observers in Ukraine to be unbiased'", where he talks about interim outcomes of the work of OSCE observers in Ukraine; p 8 (717 words).

11. Yelena Chernenko article headlined "Russia finds supporters in European Parliament" says that yesterday's debates at the European Parliament showed that European lawmakers are split on the kind of reaction the EU should offer to Russia's policy on Ukraine and Crimea; p 8 (760 words).

12. Pavel Tarasenko article headlined "Vietnam to become closer to Customs Union" looks at the outcomes of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to Vietnam; p 8 (578 words)

13. Anna Balashova, Vladimir Lavitsky article headlined "All excluded" looks at a controversy that has arisen between the state commission on radio frequencies and two Russian telecom giants, Megafon and Rostelekom, over the terms on which the two companies acted as Sochi Olympics sponsors; pp 9, 13 (550 words).

14. Valeria Kozlova, Yelena Kovaleva article "Megaoperator" gives details of a government session that discussed the creation of a national payment system; p 10 (550 words).

15. Yury Barsukov and Olga Kuznetsova article headlined "They ask to turn South Stream" says that Turkey has suggested that the South Stream gas pipeline be laid via its territory. A source in Gazprom thinks the prospect is unlikely; p 11 (477 words).

16. Anastasia Fomicheva, Natalya Skorlygina article "RudHydro to engage in reversing rivers" says the hydroelectricity company is considering ways of entering the water supply market in Crimea; p 11 (500 words).

17. Anna Sodovnikova, Kirill Melnikov article "Natural Resources Ministry announces Velikoye" says the biggest in recent years oilfield has been discovered in the Astrakhan region; p 11 (450 words).

18. Anna Zibrova article headlined "Ukrainian cheese to be cut from Russia" says that the Soyuzmoloko association has suggested that every batch of cheese imported from Ukraine be checked for vegetable fat; p 12 (500 words).

19. Kirill Melnikov, Anna Sodovnikova interview with the head of Rosgeologia, the holding company uniting state mineral exploration companies, Roman Panov; p 14 (1,600 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Svetlana Gamova article headlined "Dnestr region goes Crimean way" says that the Dnestr region's parliament has asked the Russian president to recognize the region's independence and incorporate it into Russia; pp 1, 6 (1,000 words).

2. Mikhail Sergeiev article headlined "Alexei Ulyukayev reports on economic desperation" says that Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev informed the State Duma about GDP decline and a drop in investment. The government is wary that the country may face a crisis similar to that back in 2008; pp 1, 4 (750 words).

3. Tatyana Ivzhenko article headlined "Kiev losing control over southeast" says that the four-way Russia-U.S.-EU-Ukraine talks in Geneva may be disrupted as the situation in Ukraine's east is rapidly deteriorating; pp 1, 6 (1,350 words).

4. Yury Paniyev article headlined "UN not to send blue helmets to Ukraine" says that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said that bringing UN peacekeeping troops into Ukraine would be unreasonable and looks ahead at the proposed international meeting to discuss the Ukrainian crisis settlement; pp 1, 7 (550 words).

5. Ivan Rodin article headlined "FMS quietly amends State Duma, Federation Council" says that the Federation Council has approved amendments facilitating the procedure for getting Russian citizenship, which stipulates that the procedure will apply only to those whose ancestors lived within the current borders of the Russian Federation. Meanwhile, draft Federal Migration Service on commissions to grant citizenship does not mention borders; pp 1-2 (550 words).

6. Alina Terekhova article "New citizens have nowhere to pay their utility bills" looks at difficulties associated with switching the Crimean banking sector to the ruble; pp 1, 4 (500 words).

7. Editorial headlined "Food security as lobbyists' trick" says that the main problem of the Russian agricultural sector is that it is big companies and farms that get state support and then dictate prices, while small farms are discriminated against and are forced to give up the market; p 2 (450 words).

8. Alexei Gorbachev article headlined "State grants for NGOs questioned" looks at a report compiled by Transparency International-Russia, which shows that state grants have been given to NGOs that may be affiliated with state officials and structures; p 2 (500 words).

9. Sergei Zhiltsov article headlined "Kiev looking for Moscow's hand everywhere" says that the Kiev authorities are "brainwashing" the Ukrainian population to portray Russia as an enemy and blame it for all domestic failures and economic difficulties; p 3 (650 words).

10. Alexandra Samarina article headlined "Medvedev to face cold reception in State Duma" says that lawmakers are planning to ask Prime Minister Medvedev unpleasant questions about the non-fulfilment of presidential decrees during his report on Apr. 22 ; p 3 (800 words).

11. Alexandra Samarina article headlined "Polls amid an almost war" says that polls conducted by Ukrainian sociologists in the country's southeast show that less than 20 percent of those polled would like to join Russia. Russian television channels offer a different picture although Russian sociologists have not conducted any similar polls in Ukraine recently; p 3 (800 words).

12. Ivan Naumov article "Athletes and ministers divide Olympic returns" looks at Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak's report on the financial outcomes of the Sochi Games and experts' comments on it; p 4 (750 words).

13. Yury Roks article headlined "Circumstances complicate talks between Abashidze and Karasin" looks at difficulties hampering progress in the sixth round of consultations between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin and Georgian prime minister's special envoy for relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze in Prague; p 6 (600 words).

14. Vladimir Skosyrev article headlined "Failed pawn sacrifice in Chinese-U.S. game" says that Washington has warned U.S. citizens living abroad against dangers of being recruited as spies with a video about a U.S. student recruited by the Chinese special services; p 7 (400 words).

15. Yevgenia Novikova article headlined "Facebook used for recruiting militants" says that London is anxious over a recent trend: jihadists recruiting followers from among British Muslims with the help of social networking sites; p 7 (600 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Georgy Porozhnyak article headlined "'We do not shoot at our own people!'" features a correspondent's report from the Ukrainian Donetsk region in which he interviews a Ukrainian military, who talks about upcoming acts of provocation in the eastern regions; pp 1, 8 (400 words).

2. Tatyana Smolyakova article "Loaves and 'cabbage'" gives an looks at rising food prices in Russia; pp 1, 5(450 words).

3. Tamara Shkel article "About heros and things heroic" gives an account of Audit Chamber head Tatyana Golikova's report to the State Duma yesterday; p 3 (600 words).

4. Olga Kostromina article "If 'the big three' overdramatize the situation" considers individual countries' response to situations when the major international rating agencies take "false" decisions; p 6 (1,450 words).

5. Petr Likhomanov article headlined "Ordered disorder" says that 'the national movement of resistance' to be set up in Ukraine's southeast by Yulia Tymoshenko turned out to be a hoax; p 8 (550 words).

6. Vladislav Rilsky article headlined "Decide to frighten" says that NATO has decided to enhance security on eastern borders amid escalating crisis in Ukraine; p 8 (200 words).

7. Nadezhda Yermolayeva article headlined "Honest person from foreign intelligence service" says that the head of EU intelligence ruled out the possibility of the involvement of Russian military forces in unrest in Ukraine's eastern regions; p 8 (350 words).

8. Petr Likhomanov interview with Ukrainian presidential candidate Oleh Tsaryov headlined "You will not see me repent'", where he speaks about radicals attacking and beating him up in Kiev; p 8 (350 words).

Vedomosti

1. Olga Kuvshinova et al. report headlined "Difference of courses" says that the Finance Ministry and the Economic Development Ministry differ on the forecasts and strategy for the country's economic development; pp 1, 4 (500 words).

2. Editorial signed by Maxim Trudolyubov and Nikolai Epple and headlined "Beyond the red line" attempts to answer the West's question of how far President Putin may go; pp 1, 6 (400 words).

3. Ksenia Boletskaya article headlined "Ukraine does not pay for television series" gives details of a meeting that discussed Ukrainian television channels' debts for content provided by Russian companies; pp 1, 19 (500 words).

4. Svetlana Bocharova, Lilia Biryukova piece headlined "There are no aliens here" says the government has criticized a draft bill tabled by LDPR lawmaker Andrei Lugovoy that would oblige Russians to make their dual citizenship officially known; p 2 (270 words).

5. Polina Khimshiashvili article "Four sides that do not agree" looks ahead at the four-party consultations on how to resolve the Ukrainian crisis between Ukraine, Russia, the EU and the U.S., which are scheduled to take place in Geneva today; p 3 (350 words).

6. Editorial signed by Pavel Aptekar, headlined "To frighten with migrants", comments on a report issued by the National Strategy Institute that predicts that by 2050 immigrants may make up half of Russia's population; p 6 (300 words).

7. Tatyana Voronova, Darya Borisyak piece headlined "Sanctions stronger than Putin" looks at how Bank Rossiya has been affected by U.S. sanctions; p 11 (350 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Marina Perevozkina article headlined "War of nerves" features a correspondent's report from Ukraine's eastern regions; pp 1-2 (713 words).

2. Mikhail Rostovsky article headlined "Ukraine to lose war" comments on protests in eastern Ukraine, wonders about Russia's role in them and slams the West's "double standards" in the Ukrainian crisis; pp 1-2 (809 words).

3. Andrei Yashlavsky article headlined "Kiev not to get 'blue helmets'" says that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has spoken against bringing UN peacekeeping forces into Ukraine; p 2 (441 words).

4. Mikhail Zubov piece headlined "Please do not complain about vote rigging" looks at an initiative proposed by pro-Kremlin pundits to set up a "guild of election lawyers" who alone will be authorized to complain of election violations; p 3 (250 words).

Izvestia

1. Anastasia Alexeievskikh article "Russian banks take out over 800 billion rubles from foreign banks" looks at how Russian banks are gearing up to possible U.S. and EU sanctions; pp 1, 4 (450 words).

2. Andrei Gridasov article headlined "Former investigator Karpov filing libel suit against Browder" says that former investigator and name on the Magnitsky list Pavel Karpov plans to sue William Browder for libel; pp 1, 3 (994 words).

3. Anna Lyalyakina article headlined "Terrorists to be tried only in Moscow and Rostov-on-Don" says that under new anti-terrorist amendments, terror suspects and their accomplices will lose the right to a trial by jury; pp 1, 3 (482 words).

4. Anastasia Kashevarova article headlined "Justice Ministry to decide which NGO to call 'foreign agent'" says that the government is drafting amendments to the law on NGOs to expand the Justice Ministry's powers; pp 1, 3 (585 words).

5. Ivan Cheberko article "Glonass accident to be considered by president" says that findings of the probe into a failure suffered by Glonass satellite navigation system earlier this month will be reported to President Putin; pp 1, 3 (600 words).

6. Yelena Teslova piece headlined "Morals on the Internet to be protected by 'hotline'" details Communist lawmaker Vladimir Fedotkin's proposal, which is expected to be considered by the State Duma on Apr. 23, to set up special hotlines where users could complain of any offensive content they see on the Internet; p 2 (450 words).

7. Natalya Bashlykova interview with head of the Foundation for Studies of Democracy Problems, member of the Public Chamber Maxim Grigoryev headlined "'They spend ten times more on coup in Kiev than on Georgia'" where he says that the coup in Ukraine was orchestrated by the West; p 7 (936 words).

8. Svetlana Povorzanyuk article "Spas television hannel expects only ethical advertisers" says that starting from September, the Spas television channel belonging to the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church will carry advertising; p 5 (350 words).

9. Interview with pundit Maxim Grigoryev headlined "'The coup in Kiev cost 10 times as much as the one in Georgia'" looks at the current political situation in Ukraine; p 7 (800 words).

RBK Daily

1. Farida Rustamova et al. article headlined "Duma 2014: Common millionaires and poor leaders" reviews the income statements of Russian lawmakers and senators; pp 1, 3 (500 words).

2. Stepan Opalev article headlined "Vladimir Putin more attractive" says Russian President Vladimir Putin's rating has soared; pp 1-2 (600 words).

Noviye Izvestia

1. Dmitry Durnev article headlined "Silver guns" is a report from Ukraine's Donetsk region; pp 1-2 (400 words).

Trud

1. Sergei Frolov article headlined "On bank of Rubicon" says the news from southeast Ukraine sound like war reports; p 5 (600 words).

2. Oleg Shevtsov article headlined "NATO Secretary General Rasmussen acts like thimblerigger" criticizes Anders Fogh Rasmussen's article on Russia; p 5 (300 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda

1. Andrei Kots et al. articles sharing the headline "KP correspondents report from Slovyansk: Ukrainian paratroopers raise Russian flag, take side with people" are dedicated to the Ukrainian crisis; pp 1, 4-6 (1,100 words).

2. Vladimir Sungorkin article headlined "Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky: 'Freedom to create is a holy thing but the state budget is not obliged to finance it'" is an interview with Medinsky on cultural policy; p 11 (1,200 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda (weekly)

1. Alexander Grishin article headlined "Ultimate collapse of Ukraine most sad scenario" is an interview with political scientist Alexei Mukhin on Ukraine's future; p 2 (300 words).

Zavtra

1. Andrei Fefelov opinion headlined "Struggle of Slovyansk and fate of Slavdom" favours the idea of creating an independent People's Republic of Donetsk in east Ukraine; p 1 (300 words).

Tvoi Den

1. Andrei Dedov and Anton Stepanov articles sharing the headline "Army for people" say the Ukrainian military "are refusing to execute the orders of Banderites and are taking the side of the militias"; pp 1-3 (400 words).

Krasnaya Zvezda

1. Viktor Ruchkin article headlined "On the path of escalating the conflict" describes the situation around the unrest in east Ukraine and the Russian stance on it; pp 1, 3 (1,000 words).