What the Papers Say, July 4, 2013

Kommersant

1. Anatoly Dzhumaylo article headlined "Oleg Deripaska to give his millions" says that UC RusAl's co-owner Oleg Deripaska has decided to give his bonus for 2012 to a special trust, which will buy up to 0.05 percent of RusAl shares to give an incentive to distinguished employees; pp 1, 9 (576 words).

2. Petr Netreba and Yevgeny Timoshinov article headlined "Russian Railways goes round budget deficit" says that the government is expected to approve the 2014-16 federal budget today. Meanwhile, the company Russian Railways plans to offer the National Welfare Fund to buy up to 11 percent of the company's shares to compensate funds obtained from the fund; pp 1, 4 (739 words).

3. Andrei Kolesnikov report headlined "Big academic theatre" describes a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Russian Academy of Sciences head Vladimir Fortov to discuss reforms in the academy. Fortov opposed the move, but Putin did not give in, the article says; pp 1-2 (1,734 words).

4. Taisia Bekbulatova et al. article headlined "Yaroslavl mayor taken into custody" says that Yaroslavl mayor Yevgeny Urlashov and his subordinates have been detained on suspicion of extorting a large sum of money. The opposition considers the move to be a political put-up job; pp 1, 3 (1,284 words).

5. Maxim Ivanov article headlined "Deputies master sciences in one day" says that the State Duma has approved in the first reading a bill on reforms in the Russian Academy of Sciences. United Russia and the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia backed the bill, while the Communists walked out in protest; p 2 (652 words).

6. Article by the newspaper's political section headlined "Moscow and Moscow Region authorities collect signatures for opposition" says that Moscow mayoral candidate Sergei Sobyanin and Moscow Region governor nominee Andrei Vorobyev have asked municipal deputies to give their signatures in support of opposition candidates, Alexei Navalny and Gennady Gudkov first of all, so that they could overcome the so-called municipal filter; p 3 (539 words).

7. Unattributed article headlined "What measures to take against mayors?" features comments by politicians and experts on measures to be taken against dishonest mayors given the recent corruption scandal involving the Yaroslavl mayor; p 3 (453 words).

8. Grigory Tumanov article headlined "Justice Ministry adjusted to law on NGOs" says that the Prosecutor-General's Office has admitted that the Justice Ministry abused authority in the course of mass checks of NGOs; p 5 (488 words).

9. Maria Yefimova and Pavel Tarasenko article headlined "Bolivian president's aircraft detained due to Edward Snowden" says that France and Portugal have closed their airspace to the Bolivian president's aircraft on suspicion that U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden is aboard and features a Russian expert's comment on the issue; p 6 (543 words).

10. Sergei Strokan article headlined "Egyptian revolution did not take mercy on president" says Egyptian President Muhammad Morsi may be stripped of power due to the military coup; p 6 (700 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Ivan Rodin article headlined "Vladimir Putin's academic inflexibility" says that at a meeting with Russian Academy of Sciences head, Vladimir Fortov, Putin has stuck to his opinion that the academy should be reformed in the near future and suggested that Fortov tackle the task; pp 1, 3 (877 words).

3. Darya Garmonenko and Alexei Gorbachev article headlined "Civil Platform being deprived of one and only mayor" says that experts have found out that 90 percent of opposition mayors, who have defeated ruling United Russia party candidates during elections over the past five years, have been replaced; pp 1, 3 (944 words).

4. Sergei Kulikov article headlined "Sector of services goes to minus" says that the business index of the Russian sector of services has decreased in June for the seventh time over the past eight months, which means that recession is highly probable; p 1, 4 (597 words).

5. Svetlana Gamova article headlined "Ukraine opens second Dniester region front" says that Ukraine has become concerned about violation of rights of the Ukrainians living in the Dniester region; pp 1, 6 (548 words).

6. Yevgenia Novikova article headlined "Egyptian army undertakes responsibility" says that the Egyptian army has taken control over the situation in the country and has presented a road map to help the country out of the political crisis; pp 1, 7 (736 words).

7. Editorial headlined "Evolution of Navalny" praises Moscow mayoral candidate Alexei Navalny's election manifesto; p 2 (476 words).

8. Vladimir Yevseyev article published in the Carte Blanche regular column headlined "Tehran's solitaire" looks at Iran's nuclear program and says that relations between the West and Iran in the nuclear sector may improve given the recent change of the Iranian leadership, which means that Russian-Iranian cooperation in the sector will also improve; pp 3 (768 words).

9. Tatyana Ivzhenko article headlined "Kiev hopes for easy winter" says that the gas giant Gazprom has expressed fear that Ukraine may ruin gas transit to European customers in winter; p 6 (972 words).

10. Vladimir Skosyrev article headlined "Echo of firing practice near Vladivostok to be heard in Tokyo" says that Russia and China will hold a joint naval exercise on 5-12 July in the Sea of Japan; p 7 (575 words).

Vedomosti

1. Olga Kuvshinova et al. article headlined "Russia to get in oil money" says that the 2013 budget revenues may be lower than planned; the Reserve Fund will cover the shortage, the article says; pp 1, 5 (788 words).

2. Editorial headlined "Purge of Yaroslavl" says that a criminal case opened against the Yaroslavl mayor looks politically motivated and notes that given how much information on the issue has been provided by investigators, it has an important image making effect ahead of the autumn regional election; pp 1, 6 (461 words).

3. Maria Zheleznova article headlined "Measure of restraint for mayor" says that according to a source close to the presidential administration, the federal authorities are displeased with the detention of the Yaroslavl mayor without good reasons amid the regional election campaign as this negatively affects the authorities' approval rating; p 2 (551 words).

4. Svetlana Bocharova article headlined "Reform in three days" says that the State Duma may approve a bill on reforms in the Russian Academy of Sciences in all three readings by the end of the parliament's spring session, which ends on 5 July; p 2 (600 words).

5. Lilia Biryukova et al. article headlined "Golikova to count everyone" says that presidential aide Tatyana Golikova may become the new head of the Audit Chamber; p 3 (450 words).

6. Margarita Papchenkova article headlined "American dream" says that the Belize offshore area has been ranked first in a list of the most popular offshore areas among Russian businessmen, followed by the British Virgin Islands; p 4 (578 words).

7. Editorial headlined "Hangover of 2000s" criticizes the authorities for adhering to a policy of demodernization and artificially archaised political system, chosen back in the 2000s, whereas reality demands reforms; p 6 (311 words).

8. Anton Oleynik article headlined "Reform in Russian Academy of Sciences: To give property to academy" comments on planned reforms in the Russian Academy of Sciences and suggests a number of measures to be taken to turn the reforms from utopia into a real alternative; p 6 (909 words).

9. Vadim Volkov article headlined "Extra Jus: Amnesty of businessmen is only first step" contemplates possible consequences of the so-called economic amnesty for a limited number of people serving terms for economic crimes; p 7 (604 words).

10. Maxim Glikin and Lilia Biryukova interview with businessman Mikhail Prokhorov, the leader of the Civil Platform party, headlined "'Majority thinks now to whom they should sell their business'", who speaks, among other things, about the detention of the Yaroslavl mayor and the forthcoming Moscow mayoral election; pp 8-9 (5,544 words).

Izvestia

1. Anna Akhmadiyeva article headlined "Communications Ministry to block way to foreign media" says that the Communications and Mass Media Ministry has drafted amendments to the law on media, which list reasons by which the Roskomnadzor communications watchdog can deny work permits to foreign media outlets; pp 1, 4 (565 words).

2. Anzhela Kutnyarticle headlined "Golos association sues Justice Ministry" says that the election monitoring NGO Golos, which the Justice Ministry has declared a foreign agent, has filed a lawsuit against the ministry to the European Court of Human Rights to challenge the decision; pp 1-2 (551 words).

3. Anastasia Kashevarova and Alena Sivkova article headlined "Livanov to be called to account over bill on Russian Academy of Sciences" says that Education Minister Dmitry Livanov will be summoned to the government and the presidential administration to explain himself following his remarks that he did not familiarize himself properly with the future reforms of the Russian Academy of Sciences; pp 1, 3 (689 words).

4. Dmitry Yevstifeyev and Maria Vystavkina article headlined "Yaroslavl mayor Urlashov betrayed by all subordinates" says that the Yaroslavl mayor's subordinates, who were detained together with him on suspicion of extorting a large sum of money, have pleaded guilty and are ready to testify against Urlashov; pp 1, 4 (1,221 words).

5. Alena Sivkova article headlined "Federation Council suggests establishing IAEA's analogue on personal data" says that the Federation Council wants an international commission for protection of Internet users' personal data to be established following the recent US secret services surveillance scandal; p 2 (526 words).

6. Yelena Malay article headlined "Baikal [Lake] Study Institute to fall first victim to Russian Academy of Sciences reform" says that a special commission, composed of Education and Science Ministry specialists, scientists and State Duma deputies, will be set up to assess the effectiveness of the Russian Academy of Sciences institutes; p 3 (574 words).

7. Maria Gorkovskaya article headlined "OSCE calls on Russia to give children to Americans" says that the parliamentary assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has passed a resolution, which calls on OSCE member states and Russia, in particular, to complete all initiated international adoption processes; p 5 (521 words).

8. Yevgenia Panichkina and Viktor Loginov interview with Russian ballistic missile, satellite and orbital station designer Gerbert Yefremov, headlined "'It is necessary to change entire system to prevent rockets from falling'", who speaks about reasons behind the recent failed launch of a Proton-M carrier rocket and problems of the Russian space sector; p 5 (738 words).

9. Konstantin Volkov et al. article headlined "Egyptian unrest shakes global oil market" says the recent unrest in Egypt has raised serious concerns among global oil market traders; p 7 (500 words).

10. Political analyst Boris Mezhuyev article headlined "Party of valiant people" comments on the political aspect of a criminal case on corruption charges opened against Yaroslavl mayor Yevgeny Urlashov; p 9 (839 words).

11. Political analyst Kirill Benediktov article headlined "Transit zone" says that the US whistleblower Edward Snowden case has shown that countries that have been considered a stronghold of democracy and human rights are slipping into an "information totalitarianism", whereas an area free from Internet restrictions is being formed in South America; p 9 (865 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Vladislav Kulikov article headlined "Justice comes to senses" says that a court of intellectual rights has begun to operate in Russia; pp 1, 7 (540 words).

2. Irina Nevinnaya interview with Pavel Krasheninnikov, the head of the State Duma Committee on Legislation, headlined "Deputies announce amnesty", who speaks about the economic amnesty for a number of people convicted of economic crimes; pp 1, 3 (656 words).

3. Text of the economic amnesty bill adopted by the State Duma on 2 July; pp 1, 3 (900 words).

4. Vladislav Vorobyev and Vladimir Snegirev article headlined "Morsi's Pyramid" details the army taking over power in Egypt and shares the journalists' impressions of the visit to Cairo's Tahrir square; pp 1, 6 (973 words).

5. Kira Latukhina and Vitaly Petrov article headlined "Academy ready for changes" looks at Putin's meeting with Russian Academy of Sciences head Vladimir Fortov; p 2 (1,039 words).

6. Lev Lazarenko et al. article headlined "Sweeping badly" looks at the latest major corruption scandal involving the Yaroslavl mayor; p 7 (500 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta (weekly)

1. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin article headlined "Non-star wars" features five scenarios of possible wars in the future; p 4 (1,100 words).

2. Vladislav Vorobyev article headlined "Shocked by Snowden" says in the near future, the former CIA contractor may "keep the entire world community on toes"; p 12 (500 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Marina Ozerova article headlined "Do not rub salt into wound of Russian Academy of Sciences" describes how the State Duma has discussed a bill on reforms in the Russian Academy of Sciences and says that the State Duma does not take any decisions: it only legitimizes bills and decisions generated by the Kremlin; pp 1-2 (1,278 words).

2. Konstantin Smirnov article headlined "Andrei Isayev to individual entrepreneurs. Let him have hard time" says that the ruling United Russia party is turning into a "whipping girl": it is being attacked by the opposition, on the one hand, and from above, on the other, and looks at a recent scandal involving United Russia high-ranking member Andrei Isayev; pp 1-2 (569 words).

3. Igor Karmazin article headlined "War and mayor" recalls the political situation in Yaroslavl before the corruption scandal involving the mayor has erupted; pp 1, 7 (1,910 words).

4. Natalya Vedeneyeva interview with Russian Academy of Sciences deputy head Alexander Aseyev, speaking on planned reforms in the academy; p 2 (570 words).

5. Dmitry Popov article headlined "Russia to expect woe from Umarov?" analyses head of the Caucasus Emirate Dokka Umarov's chances of wrecking the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi; p 2 (585 words).

6. Matvey Ganapolsky article headlined "Save Private Snowden" says that the case of U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden, who is staying in the transit zone of a Moscow airport, although no-one has seen him there, is, probably, Putin's best special operation; p 3 (1,098 words).

7. Natalya Rozhkova article headlined "Prokhorov going to Yaroslavl to sort Urlashov's case out" says that the leader of the Civil Platform party has not cancelled his plans to go to Yaroslavl to attend the regional party congress over the Yaroslavl mayor corruption scandal; p 7 (649 words).

RBC Daily

1. Yulia Yakovleva report "Political bribes" says that Yaroslavl mayor Yevgeny Urlashov has been detained on bribe-taking charges and placed in a remand center; pp 1-2 (750 words).

2. Svetlana Makunina report "Academic struggle" looks at the reform of the Russian Academy of Sciences and says that the Communist Party is prepared for a no confidence vote in the government at the State Duma because the bill is to be passed without a discussion; p 2 (1,100 words).

Noviye Izvestia

1. Vera Moslakova report "In a quick, tough, senseless way" says that over the last six months, the State Duma has turned even more into a generator of repressive laws; pp 1-2 (1,418 words).

2. Yulia Savina article headlined "Pre-election bribe" says that the prosecution of Yaroslavl mayor Yevgeny Urlashov is playing into the latter's hands since in the 8 September regional election, people will back him as a man being oppressed by the authorities; pp 1-2 (918 words).

3. Margarita Alekhina article headlined "With personal belongings to exit" says that the human rights organization Amnesty International has published a report on illegal extradition and deportation of citizens of Central Asian republics from Russia and Ukraine. According to the report, Russia is violating international agreements that prohibit the handover of political refugees to countries where they will be tortured; pp 1, 5 (932 words).

4. Konstantin Nikolayev report "Bouncing from board" says that Bolivia has asked the UN secretary-general to give an assessment of an incident with the Bolivian president's aircraft which was flying from Moscow. The plane had to stop over in Austria and was searched for fugitive American Edward Snowden, who is hiding at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport; p 2 (350 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda

1. Alexander Gamov report "Vladimir Putin: 'When they reform themselves, result is not very promising'" looks at Putin's meeting with acting head of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladimir Fortov to discuss the reform of the academy; p 2 (750 words).

2. Vladimir Vorsobin report "City mayor took bribes worth millions from 1,000 ruble banknote" says that Yaroslavl mayor has been detained on suspicion of corruption; p 4 (950 words).

3. Alexander Kats, Dmitry Steshin article "Egypt coming to a head" features the newspaper correspondents' report from Egypt describing the latest developments in the country and in Cairo, in particular, and saying that the army has been put on alert; p 5 (1,800 words).

4. Yekaterina Kruglova report "We invite you to take post of Moscow mayor!" looks at the upcoming Moscow mayoral election and says that acting Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has called on municipal deputies to give signatures to opposition candidate Alexei Navalny so that he could overcome the "municipal filter"; p 7 (1,200 words).

5. Alexander Milkus report "Rocket falls down and hits officials" looks at the recent accident with Proton-M launch vehicle that has crashed carrying three Glonass satellites and at problems facing the space industry; p 10 (750 words).

6. Yevgeny Chernykh's second part of an interview headlined "Who are you, Mr Snowden?" with expert Yelena Larina who looks at scandals in the U.S. presidential administration and in other U.S. agencies; pp 12-13 (2,700 words).

7. Varvara Onishchenko report "Air alert" looks at yet another international scandal surrounding Edward Snowden and involving the Bolivian president; p 13 (400 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda weekly

1. YevgenyChernykh report "Why are American special services eavesdropping on all of us?" looks at a scandal over U.S. fugitive Edward Snowden; pp 6-7 (3,300 words).

Zavtra

1. Article headlined "America, with Medvedev's hands, delivers deadly blow to Russia" featuring academicians' open letter to the leadership protesting against the government's decision to reform the Russian Academy of Sciences; p 1 (800 words).

2. Newspaper publishes article "Phenomenon of Edward Snowden" with experts' and political analysts' comments on the situation with former CIA employee Edward Snowden; p 4 (3,300 words).

Krasnaya Zvezda

1. Andrei Gavrilenko report "Thousands of miles to America and Africa" says that a group of warships of Black Sea and North Sea fleets will carry out exercises in the Atlantic Ocean; p 1 (750 words).