What the Papers Say, May 23, 2013

Kommersant

1. Petr Netreba and Dmitry Butrin article headlined "Not to wait three years for promised things" says that the Russian government has begun to revise the 2014-16 budget because the budget deficit may rise to 0.6 percent of GDP in 2014; pp 1, 8 (746 words).

2. Roman Rozhkov et al. article headlined "defense Ministry surrounds CSKA" says that the defense Ministry has filed a lawsuit against the CSKA football club, seeking 300 million rubles ($9.5 million) to be paid for a lease of a plot of land where the team's training base is located; pp 1, 12 (667 words).

3. Khalil Aminov and Ksenia Dementyeva article headlined "Mikhail Gutseriyev buys cheap ticket to Olympics" says that the disgraced former head of the state-run company Resorts of the North Caucasus, Akhmed Bilalov, has sold his stake in the Gornaya Karusel resort, being built for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi for $20 million, which is 20 times less than the market price; pp 1, 12 (632 words).

4. Dmitry Butrin article headlined "Sergei Prikhodko summoned to government staff" says that former chief of the government staff Vladislav Surkov's deputy Sergei Prikhodko has been appointed the chief of the government staff and the deputy prime minister; pp 1, 3 (567 words).

5. Maxim Ivanov article headlined "Duma parties defend themselves from 'urban mad people'" says that the United Russia party has backed the opposition's demand that small parties should be allowed to stand in parliamentary elections; p 2 (560 words).

6. Ivan Safronov article headlined "State armament program stays for extended military service" says that the implementation of the state armament program until 2020 may be delayed for two or four years; p 2 (584 words).

7. Viktor Khamrayev article headlined "Council of Europe stands up for Russian NGOs" says that the European Court of Human Rights may deal with the problems that Russian NGOs, which are obliged to register as foreign agents, are facing. Meanwhile, a second wave of NGO audits has begun in Russia; p 2 (576 words).

8. Unattributed article in the "Direct speech" column headlined "Does bench end?" features comments by experts and politicians on Sergei Prikhodko's appointment as the chief of the government staff and the deputy prime minister; p 3 (468 words).

9. Andrei Kolesnikov article headlined "Candidate's examinations passed to president" reports on President Vladimir Putin's meeting with staff and students from the Southern Federal University; p 3 (1,172 words).

10. Natalya Korchenkova article headlined "Vladimir Putin to hear about amnesty" looks ahead at Putin's meeting with businessmen today; p 3 (408 words).

11. Ilya Barabanov article headlined "Alexei Navalny outlines questions for Nikita Belykh" says that Kirov Region governor Nikita Belykh has given testimony for the defendant in the trial of opposition activist Alexei Navalny targeted in the KirovLes timber company case; p 4 (839 words).

12. Alexander Reutov report "Mahmud Ahmadinezhad deprived of future" looks at candidates to stand in the presidential election in Iran; p 7 (650 words).

Nezavisimaya GazetaVedomostiIzvestiaRossiiyskaya GazetaRossiyskaya Gazeta (weekly)

1. Ivan Rodin article headlined "Business amnesty advocator Boris Titov" says that granting an amnesty to businessmen convicted of economic crimes will become the main point for discussion at Putin's meeting with the business community to be held today in Voronezh; pp 1, 3 (903 words).

2. Sergei Kulikov article headlined "Gazprom and Rosnano to make friends through shares and innovation" says that the Russian gas giant Gazprom plans to spend $1 billion on innovation development and on research and development activity by 2020. Gazprom and the state corporation Rosnano will set up a venture fund to develop new gas technologies; pp 1, 4 (803 words).

3. Alexei Gorbachev article headlined "Protection of orphans hangs" says that the president's human rights council plans to ask Putin to speed up the adoption of a bill introducing public control over children's homes; pp 1, 5 (680 words).

4. Svetlana Gamova and Tatyana Ivzhenko article headlined "Peacekeepers in Dniester region left without porridge and cartridges" says that Kiev has blocked supply support for Russian peacekeepers in the Dniester region on Chisinau's initiative. Moldova accused Russia of exerting pressure on it, seeking the opening of a military aerodrome in Tiraspol; pp 1, 6 (932 words).

5. Igor Naumov report "Imprisonment for failure to participate in census" says that the introduction of administrative or criminal responsibility for evading participation in census may help Russia join the OECD; pp 1, 4 (750 words).

6. Oleg Vladykin article headlined "Sergei Shoigu gladdens deputies" says that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has delivered a report to the State Duma behind closed doors; p 2 (527 words).

7. Editorial headlined "Recoding label" contemplates whether sociological organizations in Russia should register as foreign agents given the recent prosecutor's warning to the independent pollster the Levada Center; p 2 (462 words).

8. Viktor Litovkin article headlined "Russian Defense Ministry attacks NATO with words" says that an international conference on military and political aspects of European security has opened in Moscow. The Defense Ministry has organized the meeting; p 2 (764 words).

9. Alexandera Samarina article headlined "How to filter content in Internet" says that the Fund for the Development of Civil Society led by Konstantin Kostin has suggested amending the law on the fight against extremism to increase control over the Internet; p 3 (979 words).

10. Alexei Makarkin article published in the Carte Blanche regular column headlined "Partners of authorities" says that Putin's recent meeting with the leaders of the parliamentary parties has confirmed that the parliamentary opposition is de-facto a partner of the Russian authorities; p 3 (733 words).

11. Anastasia Bashkatova report "Deficit gets out of control" says that the Finance Ministry may not cope with the budget deficit in 2014 and a decrease in revenues may total R650bn; p 4 (1,200 words).

12. Viktoria Panfilova interview with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, headlined "Problems may occur between neighbours", who speaks about Russian-Azerbaijani relations and prospects for settling the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict; p 6 (1,129 words).

13. YuryPaniyev article headlined "They argue about Geneva in Middle East" says that US Secretary of State John Kerry has visited Jordan and Oman to discuss the Syrian conflict settlement ahead of the forthcoming Geneva-2 international conference. Moscow and Washington still differ about the role of Iran in the conference; p 7 (607 words).

1. Svetlana Bocharova and Alexei Nikolsky article headlined "It cannot be that they do not serve term" says that representatives from Russian law-enforcement and security agencies as well as the presidential administration have criticized the amendments to the Criminal Code, which have mitigated punishment for businessmen; pp 1, 3 (705 words).

2. Olga Plotonova article headlined "Nine buyers of VTB" says that the bank VTB has become the first state-run company that has held privatization in 2013; pp 1, 15 (597 words).

3. Editorial headlined "Mutual influence" comments on Russia's migration policy. Despite Russian officials' hysteria, the migration situation in Russia is not extraordinary and is far from being critical, article says; pp 1, 6 (461 words).

4. Anastasia Kornya article headlined "Last witness" quotes an expert as saying that Kirov Region governor Nikita Belykh has testified for opposition activist Alexei Navalny, targeted in the KirovLes timber company case, because he no longer expects to be re-appointed as the regional head; p 2 (383 words).

5. Oleg Salmonov et al. article headlined "Where losses originate from in Rosnano" focuses on the results of the Audit Chamber's check on the state corporation Rosnano. The company ineffectively monitored the possible improper use of budget funds and made ineffective investment; p 11 (585 words).

6. Maxim Glikin and Lilia Biryukova article headlined "This people should be listened to" says that governors will be invited to the founding congress of the All-Russia People's Front on 11-12 June in Moscow. They will meet presidential administration officials who will explain how to cooperate with regional branches of the organization; p 2 (597 words).

7. Maria Zheleznova article headlined "Wrong nationalists" says that the Justice Ministry has rejected the National Democratic Party's application to register; p 3 (435 words).

8. Maxim Tovkaylo article headlined "R1,000bn-worth city" looks at Russia's spending on preparations for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi; pp B1, B8 (1,140 words).

9. Editorial headlined "Medvedev's rearguard" says that Putin needs Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's government not to implement unpopular reforms, but to disguise a lack of reforms; p 6 (302 words).

1. Ivan Cheberko article headlined "Roskosmos delays Moon expedition for 10 years" looks at changes in Russia's space program until 2030; pp 1, 4 (710 words).

2. Denis Telmanov article headlined "Shoigu returns officers to Suvorov military schools" says that the Defense Ministry has decided to employ career officers as teachers at Suvorov military schools; pp 1, 3 (547 words).

3. Yekaterina Kvon article headlined "Rosbank head Golubkov's property seized" says that property owned by Rosbank head Vladimir Golubkov, who is charged with bribe-taking, has been seized as security of his being able to pay compensation to his victim, if he is found guilty; pp 1, 4 (529 words).

4. Svetlana Subbotina report "Deputies suggest that moratorium for migrants be introduced" says that that Sergei Ivanov, State Duma deputy from the LDPR, has drafted a bill on a 5-year moratorium on work permits for unskilled foreign workers; pp 1, 4 (650 words).

5. Yelena Teslova article headlined "Alexei Chesnakov to be expelled from United Russia on 24 May" says that a decision on former deputy secretary of the ruling United Russia party's general council, Alexei Chesnakov's bid to quit the party will be made on 24 May; p 2 (710 words).

6. Yegor Sozayev-Guryev article headlined "Berlusconi to visit friend" says that Italian politician Silvio Berlusconi will visit Russia to meet Putin on 25 May; p 2 (380 words).

7. Konstantin Volkov article headlined "Republicans and Russia unite against Obama" says that Putin's confidential letter to US President Barack Obama, which is a response to the recent document with proposals to continue cooperation on missile defense, has something in common with the Republicans' statements, who oppose Obama's initiatives on missile defense cooperation with Russia; p 7 (344 words).

1. Vladislav Kulikov article headlined "Payment for duty" says that the State Duma is considering a bill introducing an increased tax for those who have evaded military service; pp 1, 3 (917 words).

2. Yulia Krivoshapko interview with Russian businessmen's rights ombudsman Boris Titov, headlined "One cannot prosecute. Grant pardon?", who speaks about businessmen's initiatives to be presented to Putin today; p 2 (461 words).

3. Natalya Yachmennikova report "Ready!" says that the first light launch carrier Angara will be shipped to Plesetsk cosmodrome next week; p 7 (550 words).

4. Yevgeny Shestakov article headlined "American twist of fate" looks at the upcoming international conference on Syria and at the U.S. Senate's decision to back arms supplies to the Syrian opposition; p 8 (550 words).

1. Mikhail Barshchevskyinterview with first deputy head of the State Duma committee on security and prevention of corruption Viktor Cherkesov, headlined "Split consequence", who speaks about current threats to Russia and the Russian judicial system; p 8 (1,289 words).

2. Igor Yeliseyev interview with IT expert Igor Ashmanov, headlined "I choke up gun with IT", who speaks about information wars and whether robots and hackers are good to be used to this effect; pp 26-27 (2,109 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Alexander Melman article headlined "Is fascism near?" attacks TV journalist Arkady Mamontov for inviting in his "Special Correspondent" program, dedicated to the Victory Day in World War II, Komsomolskaya Pravda journalist Ulyana Skoybeda, who is known for anti-Semitic and xenophobic remarks; pp 1, 8 (600 words).

2. Mikhail Rostovsky article headlined "Surkov for breakfast, Medvedev for lunch or where democrats come from in Russia" speaks ironically about the former deputy secretary of the ruling United Russia party's general council, Alexei Chesnakov's voluntary quitting the party; pp 1-2 (700 words).

3. Mikhail Zubov interview with businessman Mikhail Prokhorov, the leader of the Civil Platform party, headlined "Mikhail Prokhorov ready to sacrifice Yo-mobil car to politics", who speaks about his electoral plans, Putin and recent odd laws passed in Russia; p 2 (700 words).

4. Natalya Rozhkova article headlined "Navalny appreciates Belykh's testimony in court" quotes political expert Mikhail Vinogradov as saying that Kirov Region governor Nikita Belykh's testimony for opposition activist Alexei Navalny, targeted in the KirovLes timber company case, will not affect his future as the regional head; p 2 (600 words).

5. Matvey Ganapolsky article headlined "Everything that Gerard wants" mocks Russian officials' bowing before French actor and Russian citizen Gerard Depardieu; p 3 (1,100 words).

6. Konstantin Smirnov and Sergei Yegorov article headlined "What Gazprom misses: Shale gas or coal?" says that Russia seems to have lost the fight for the European energy market, having yielded to the U.S. with its cheap coal and a number of European countries where shale gas production will be launched soon; p 3 (450 words).

7. Marina Ozerova report "Shoigu secretly delivers speech at State Duma" looks at Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's speech at the State Duma; the latter promised support to the ministry; p 2 (450 words).

8. Svetlana Khikhryakova report "Witches in Russia's heart" says that a documentary about the Pussy Riot punk group has been shown at the Cannes film market; p 8 (600 words).

Noviye IzvestiaRBK DailyKrasnaya Zvezda

1. Konstantin Bakanov article headlined "Contest of foreign affairs" says that the 2013 Eurovision song contest has turned into a major foreign policy problem; pp 1, 4 (1,200 words).

2. Konstantin Nikolayev article headlined "Address to ambassador" says that the State Duma has invited US ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul to a meeting of one of the parliamentary committees to explain why the U.S. State Department has listed Russia among countries where the freedom of religion is violated; p 2 (400 words).

3. Nadezhda Krasilova article headlined "Leaving man" features experts' comments on the former deputy secretary of the ruling United Russia party's general council, Alexei Chesnakov's quitting the party; p 2 (650 words).

4. Margarita Alekhina article headlined "Recusing the accused" says one of two members of the Russian feminist punk group Pussy Riot currently serving prison sentences for performing a protest song in Moscow's main cathedral in February 2012, has been deprived of a right to attend the hearing of her application for parole; p 5 (600 words).

1. Svetlana Makunina article headlined "Shoigu takes deputies without striking blow" says that State Duma deputies have been pleased with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's report and even expressed willingness to ensure that former defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov is convicted of destroying Russia's defense capability; p 2 (750 words).

2. Yevgenia Korytina article headlined "Rating of fight against corruption: Top 10 over week" lists 10 most high-profile corruption scandals in Russia, according to RBK; p 3 (300 words).

1. Marianna Yevtodyeva article headlined "Anti-ballistic missile defense: Discussions continue" comments on the talks between Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev and Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel, during which the US anti-ballistic missile defense plans have been discussed; p 3 (1,300 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda (Moscow)

1. Maria Safina article headlined "Maria Alekhina goes on hunger strike in prison" says that one of two members of the Russian feminist punk group Pussy Riot currently serving prison sentences for performing a protest song in Moscow's main cathedral in February 2012, has gone on hunger strike; p 5 (350 words).

2. Olga Korol interview with Dina Garipova, Russian participant who competed in the Eurovision song contest, saying she does not understand why there is so much fuss about the results of the contest and the alleged disappearance of Azerbaijan's points given to Russia; p 22 (300 words).

Related articles:

• What the Papers Say, May 22, 2012
• What the Papers Say, May 21, 2012
• What the Papers Say, May 20, 2012