What the Papers Say, Sept. 26, 2013

Kommersant

1. Yegor Popov article headlined "Screw propellers on water" zooms in on a new strategy for the development of the state-run United Shipbuilding Corporation until 2030; pp 1, 9 (588 words).

2. Sergei Mashkin article headlined "Defense Ministry allows loss of embezzlement case" says that the Defense Ministry has admitted it does not have financial claims against former CEO of Slavyanka and founder of the Bezopasnost i Svyaz company, Alexander Yelkin, targeted in the Defense Ministry fraud case; pp 1, 6 (915 words).

3. Maxim Ivanov article headlined "Valentina Matviyenko against all" says that Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko has suggested restoring the "against all" box in ballot papers. Experts have welcomed the move as it may help increase the voter turnout, but the ruling United Russia party has not backed the idea; pp 1-2 (704 words).

4. Taisia Bekbulatova article headlined "Non-governmental organizations as good as nothing" says that according to the research conducted by former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin's Civil Initiatives Committee, 93 percent of Russians are not aware of the performance of non-governmental organizations; p 2 (506 words).

5. Yelena Chernenko article headlined "Truce being concluded with Iranian atom" says that a ministerial meeting of the 5+1 group of international mediators on the Iranian nuclear program will be held today as part of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly; p 4 (640 words).

6. Andrei Kolesnikov report headlined "One could sense Arctic warm in Vladimir Putin" gives an account of the international Arctic forum in Salekhard and comments on President Vladimir Putin's remarks as regards the incident with Greenpeace activists; p 4 (891 words).

7. Grigory Tumanov et al. article headlined "Highly re-qualified ecologists" say that President Putin does not consider Greenpeace activists detained for an attempt to board an oil rig in the Pechora Sea to be pirates. The Russian Investigative Committee may reduce the charges against them; p 4 (667 words).

8. Yekaterina Vyushkova article headlined "Investigators get interested in soldier's ration" says that a probe has been launched into the heads of several subsidiaries of the RBE group of companies in Samara over contracts with Voyentorg military retailer and service provider on food supplies to the army in 2011 and 2012; p 6 (559 words).

9. Oleg Rubnikovich article headlined "Switchboards connected to Voyentelekom case" says that Moscow's Khamovnichesky court has issued an arrest warrant for the former director-general of the Voyentelekom company, suspected of large-scale fraud; p 6 (522 words).

10. Olga Mordyushenko and Anna Solodovnikova article headlined "Gazprom and Rosneft fail to share Asia-Pacific Region" says that relations between the oil company Rosneft and the gas giant Gazprom have sharply worsened supposedly over the distribution of gas fields; p 7 (548 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Yevgenia Novikova article headlined "Lavrov makes advances to Kerry" says that Russia and the U.S. have practically reconciliated their positions on a future UN Security Council resolution on Syria. Russia has agreed to include a provision on the use of force against Damascus if the Syrian authorities fail to meet agreements on its chemical disarmament, but opposed its application without an additional UN Security Council resolution; p 1, 2 (705 words).

2. Ivan Rodin article headlined "Crawling revision of constitution" looks ahead at the all-Russia's congress of municipalities, which is to be held in early November and is expected to be attended by President Putin. The abolition of local governments across Russia will be discussed at the meeting; p 1, 3 (651 words).

3. Alexandra Samarina and Petr Tverdov article headlined "Section named after Navalny" says that Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko has suggested restoring the "against all" box on the ballot. This could be done in order to strip radical opposition of additional votes, the article says. A corresponding bill may be put for consideration before Oct. 1 ; p 1, 3 (1,156 words).

4. Svetlana Gavrilina and Alexei Gorbachev article headlined "Liberal unity more important than elections" says that the federal bureau of the RPR-Parnas party will meet today in Moscow to discuss the future of the party's branch in St. Petersburg, which is on the brink of dissolution; p 1, 3 (813 words).

5. Editorial headlined "Economy of revised promises" says that the economic situation in Russia is alarming and has surprised Russian officials; p 2 (515 words).

6. Anastasia Bashkatova article headlined "Kiev calls on Moscow for concrete dialogue" says that Ukraine wants Moscow to specify what exactly it does not like about Kiev's intention to integrate with the EU. Meanwhile, Russia has to make a choice between a clean break of bilateral relations or maintaining at least some economic ties with Ukraine; p 4 (997 words).

7. Igor Naumov article headlined "Vladimir Putin not to give away Arctic region to ecologists" looks at the international Arctic forum in Salekhard, at which President Putin stood up for the industrial development of the Arctic region despite possible environmental risks; p 4 (740 words).

8. Yury Roks article headlined "Saakashvili sure that Russia leaves entire Caucasus" says that Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili made an anti-Russian speech at the 68th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The day before, he met natives of Georgia living in the U.S. and also criticized Russia; p 6 (694 words).

Vedomosti

1. Yelena Khodyakova and Milana Chelpanova article headlined "Novatek to choose between two candidates" says that two consortiums from Japan and India are competing for a stake in the Yamal LNG project being developed by the Novatek independent gas manufacturer; pp 1, 12 (734 words).

2. Margarita Papchenkova et al. article headlined "To put pressure on investor" focuses on draft amendments to the Tax Code, which envisage the change in the system of tax privileges for Russians; pp 1, 5 (616 words).

3. Editorial headlined "Time machine" comments on an idea to restore the "against all" box on the ballot and an initiative to reinstate elections by single-seat constituencies from the point of view of the modernization of the archaic political system in Russia; p 1 (410 words).

4. Polina Khimshiashvili and Alexei Nikolsky article headlined "Putin cancels piracy" says that at the international Arctic forum in Salekhard, President Putin declared that the Greenpeace activists detained for an attempt to board an oil rig in the Pechora Sea are not considered pirates; p 2(500 words).

5. Lilia Biryukova article headlined "Party not guilty" looks ahead at the ruling United Russia party congress set for Oct. 5 , at which planned reshuffles of the party leadership will be held; p 2 (558 words).

6. Svetlana Bocharova article headlined "History will do without Bolotnaya" looks into the draft concept of the single study book on Russian history. The book will feature Putin's two presidential terms and the two jail terms of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, whereas nothing at all is said about the present-day opposition movement; p 3 (450 words).

7. Maxim Tovkaylo and Margarita Lyutova article headlined "Preparations for conflict" looks at the prospects for Russian-Ukrainian relations as Kiev preferred integration with the EU to membership of the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan; p 5 (485 words).

8. Ella Paneyakh article headlined "Extra Jus: vicious circle of humiliation" criticizes prison conditions in Russian jails given the convicted Pussy Riot punk band member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova's recent complaint; p 6 (732 words).

9. Editorial headlined "Crime and punishment" compares prison conditions in Russian jails to those in Scandinavia; p 6 (331 words).

10. Human Rights Watch deputy head Carroll Bogert article headlined "Syrian chemical weapons: Who used sarin" contemplates Russia's stance on the Syrian conflict and describes conclusions made by UN chemical experts and human rights activists on the Aug. 21 chemical attack near Damascus; p 7 (1,071 words).

11. Yekaterina Sobol and Alexei Nikolsky interview with Viktor Livanov, director-general of Ilyushin aviation plant, headlined "'Do not scare me, I am not so easily scared'", speaks about the revival of the Russian military aviation; pp 8-9 (5,813 words).

Izvestia

1. Yelizaveta Mayetnaya and German Petelin article headlined "Colony No 14 makes clothes for former State Duma deputy" says that convicted women in the penal colony in the Republic of Mordovia, where Pussy Riot punk group member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova is serving her term, are practically working for former State Duma deputy from United Russia, Vladimir Golovnev, who owns a company that sells work wear; pp 1-2 (1,433 words).

2. Olesya Yelkova article headlined "Federal Anti-Monopoly Service to check sale of Uralkali shares to Chinese company" says that the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service will check the sale of a stake in the Russian potash producer Uralkali to the Chinese sovereign wealth fund Chengdong Investment Corporation as the deal could have been concluded without the endorsement of the commission for foreign investment; pp 1, 3 (437 words).

3. Anastasia Kashevarova and Svetlana Subbotina article headlined "Head of state to deliver address in early December" says that the presidential administration has begun to prepare the text of President Putin's address to the Federal Assembly. Putin will deliver the address in the first half of December, probably on Dec. 12 , the article says; p 2 (580 words).

4. Yegor Sozayev-Guryev article headlined "Putin calls on Greenpeace for dialogue" says that at the international Arctic forum in Salekhard, Putin has condemned an attempted boarding of an oil rig in the Pechora Sea by Greenpeace activists; p 2 (413 words).

5. Olesya Yelkova article headlined "Uralkali staff stands up for their arrested director" says that employees of the Russian potash producer Uralkali will send a letter to Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko in defense of their director-general Vladislav Baumgertner, who was arrested in late August ; p 3 (531 words).

6. Yulia Tsoy article headlined "Party of Pensioners to sue Bozhena Rynska" says that the Russian Party of Pensioners for Justice has filed a lawsuit against journalist Bozhena Rynska over the protection of honor and dignity; Rynska offended elderly people in her blog; p 3 (573 words).

7. Maria Gorkovskaya article headlined "Syrian opposition splits over shariah" says that 13 radical Islamist groups have quit the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces. The article also features a Russian expert's comment on the issue; p 7 (511 words).

8. Konstantin Volkov article headlined "Iranian president brings peace and friendship to U.S." says that at the 68th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the new Iranian president has announced that Tehran is ready to begin talks on the Iranian nuclear program immediately. Russian experts say 'perestroika' has begun in Iran; p 7 (525 words).

9. Mikhail Vignansky interview with former Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze , headlined "'Concept of Eurasian Union will hardly attract Georgia'", speaks about Russian-Georgian relations and the prospects for their development; p 7 (783 words).

10. Political analyst Boris Mezhuyev article headlined "Feel the difference" says that the ruling United Russia party has had its day, having yielded to the Putin's brainchild, the public movement People Front for Russia; p 9 (539 words).

11. Leonid Zlotin article headlined "Not Jolly Roger" comments on the incident in the Pechora Sea involving Greenpeace activists; p 9 (617 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Vitaly Petrov article headlined "Nordic character" reports on the international Arctic forum in Salekhard, attended by Vladimir Putin; p 2 (652 words).

2. Vladimir Kuzmin article headlined "Translated into customs language" looks at the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Astana at the level of prime ministers; p 2 (305 words).

3. Anna Zakatnova article headlined "Scientific Federation Council" describes a meeting of the Federation Council, at which a bill on reforms in the Russian Academy of Sciences was approved among other things; p 3 (933 words).

4. Political analyst Alexei Mukhin article headlined "Losses for two" says that the Uralkali conflict between Russia and Belarus has turned out to be beneficial for both countries' foreign rivals, who are now leaders in the world's potash market; p 4 (685 words).

5. Sergei Ptichkin article headlined "Shooting with accent" looks at the 2013 Russia Arms Expo, an exhibition of Russian arms and hardware, which is under way in Nizhny Tagil; p 6 (414 words).

6. Vladislav Vorobyev article headlined "Stir in headquarters" shares the journalist's impression of a meeting between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his U.S. counterpart John Kerry on the sidelines of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly in New York; p 8 (926 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Anastasia Gnedinskaya article headlined "Do not tell lies about Olympics" says that the host of the 2014 Winter Olympics, Sochi, has been flooded as a result of heavy rains; pp 1, 12 (699 words).

2. Alexander Minkin article headlined "Lesson for all" criticizes Russian society for not protesting against reforms in the Russian Academy of Sciences and academicians for not opposing recent controversial bills, for instance the ban on Russian orphans' adoption by U.S. families; pp 1, 3 (599 words).

3. Mikhail Rostovsky article headlined "Should Putin have private life or Kremlinologist's hard work" comments on an interview with President Vladimir Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov and welcomes a new stand on the president's private life saying that it is nobody's business; pp 1-2 (761 words).

4. Viktoria Prikhodko article headlined "Putin condemns Greenpeace action at Prirazlomnaya oil rig" outlines Putin's statements about an incident in the Pechora Sea involving Greenpeace activists; p 2 (431 words).

5. Natalya Rozhkova article headlined "A Just Russia to change leader" says that the A Just Russia party will hold a party congress on Oct. 26, at which the party leader can be replaced; p 2 (494 words).

6. Natalya Vedeneyeva article headlined "Do not stay! Be afraid!" says that two academicians have been detained in front of the building of the Federation Council during a rally in protest against reforms in the Russian Academy of Sciences and features the detainees' comments on the issue; p 3 (606 words).

7. Yevgeny Balabas article headlined "Four thousand children to remain in orphanages" says that foreign adoption has been completely banned in Kemerovo Region; p 3 (519 words).

8. Kirill Saltykov article headlined "Tolokonnikova 'secured' in punitive isolation ward" says that convicted Pussy Riot punk band girl Nadezhda Tolokonnikova has been moved to a punitive isolation ward because the prison leadership considers this place to be the safest. She also complained about threats from the prison leadership; p 3 (533 words).

9. Dmitry Vasilenko article headlined "New Syrian game: Russian factor" explains why the West reacted so negatively to President Putin's op-ed column published by The New York Times; p 4 (648 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta (weekly)

1. Unattributed article headlined "2013: Red lines of Vladimir Putin" outlines the key statements made by President Putin at the Valdai forum attended both by his supporters and the opposition; pp 2-3 (2,100 words).

2. Maxim Makarychev article headlined "Question from White Widow" features a report on the shopping mall siege in Nairobi, saying that terrorists killed only white and non-Muslim people; p 12 (300 people).

Noviye Izvestia

1. Veronika Vorontsova article headlined "One needs to swim out" says that indifferent and corrupt officials make it difficult to quickly overcome the consequences of natural disasters in various Russian regions; pp 1, 5 (1,205 words).

2. Diana Yevdokimova interview with Greenpeace Russia program director Ivan Blokov, headlined "'Risk of disaster at oil platform higher than at nuclear power plant'", speaks about the detention of Greenpeace activists in the Pechora Sea and their future as they are facing prosecution; pp 1, 5 (789 words).

3. Mikhail Nikiforenko article headlined "For 'against all'" says the proposed restoration of the "against all" option in ballot papers is playing into the Russian authorities' hands as this will excite people's interest in elections and split the opposition, thus ensuring the ruling United Russia party's strong election showing; pp 1, 2 (1,248 words).

4. Anna Alexeieva and Yelena Firsova article headlined "Acid test" says representatives of the presidential human rights council, who have inspected the prison conditions of the convicted Pussy Riot punk band member, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, in the Republic of Mordovia, have confirmed violations; pp 1, 5 (633 words).

5. Vera Moslakova article headlined "Second stage" says that the Federation Council has approved a bill on reforms in the Russian Academy of Sciences; p 2 (391 words).

6. Yelena Popova article headlined "Entry prohibited" says that Ukraine has closed certain checkpoints on the border with Russia's Bryansk Region to prevent the spread of African swine fever, but experts think that it is a continuation of a trade war between the two countries; p 3 (611 words).

7. Anna Alexeieva article headlined "Picket against sacking of homosexual teachers ends with detentions" says Orthodox activists have pelted participants of a LGBT rally with eggs and a few people on both sides have been detained; p 5 (300 words).

RBC Daily

1. Yulia Yakovleva and Alexander Litoy article headlined "Return of candidate" features moderate and positive comments by Russian pundits and politicians on a proposal by the Federation Council's chairwoman, Valentina Matviyenko, to add an "against all" option to ballots; p 2 (300 words).

2. Yulia Yakovleva article headlined "Main election for party in five years" is an interview with A Just Russia member Alexander Ageyev about the party preparation for the Moscow city parliament election; p 2 (500 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda

1. Yelena Krivyakina article headlined "These are not ultimatums" is an interview with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who says that Ukraine's European integration will negatively affect the country's economic cooperation with Russia; p 2 (600 words).

2. Vladimir Vorsbin article headlined "Matviyenko goes 'against all'" features comments by various notable Russians on the Federation Council chairwoman's proposal to add an "against all" option to voting papers; p 3 (300 words)

3. Alexei Ovchinnikov article headlined "Tolokonnikova poorly knows content of her letter" features comments by Russian human rights officials on a complaint by jailed Pussy Riot member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova about supposed violations in her penal colony; p 4 (600 words).

4. Maxim Volodin article headlined "Obama extremely stubborn" says Vladimir Putin's article in the New York Times is giving no peace to U.S. President Barack Obama, who believes in the exceptionalism of the U.S.. Meanwhile, Russian reservations about Syria come true as more opposition troops join Islamist militants; p 7 (400 words).

5. Galina Sapozhnikova article headlined "Why Yekaterinburg votes for Roizman" is the second part of an interview with the new mayor of Yekaterinburg, Yevgeny Roizman; pp 8-9 (1,600 words).