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What the Papers Say, Oct. 8, 2012

Igor Tabakov

Kommersant

1. Kirill Melnikov and Vladimir Dzaguto article headlined "Igor Sechin Being Stripped of Last But One" says the Russian government has obliged Rosneft to transfer 50 billion rubles (around $1.58 billion) worth of dividends to the federal budget. The Russian oil giant is arguing with the government over its assets; p 1 (625 words).

2. Dmitry Butrin article headlined "More Than 3 Not Allowed to Investigate" says new regulations will limit the number of ministries discussing controversial issues in the Russian government. No more than three ministries will be entitled to discuss a decree or a bill; pp 1, 8 (894 words).

3. Yevgeny Timoshinov article headlined "Rosneft Organizes Malfunction in Sistema" says Rosneft has blocked the privatization of the SG-Trans company, which the Sistema financial corporation wanted to buy; pp 1, 9 (673 words).

4. Yevgenia Petrseva article headlined "First-time Renting" says the Ideas4retall company promoting the UK retail network Hamley's may become an anchor tenant in the Detsky Mir kids store in central Moscow; pp 1, 9 (542 words).

5. Viktor Khamrayev article headlined "Vladimir Putin Celebrates in Exhaustive Way" comments on President Putin's interview with NTV dedicated to his 60th birthday; p 2 (770 words).

6. Sergei Goryashko article headlined "Nothing New Expected From President" reviews the results of a recent public opinion poll held by the VTsIOM center showing that Russians want the president to help them improve their personal well-being mainly; p 2 (626 words).

7. Sergei Petunin et al. report headlined "Regions Break Records" reviews preparations for the local parliamentary elections to be held in six Russian regions on Oct. 14; p 3 (774 words).

8. Maxim Varyvdin interview with head of Dagestan Magomedsalam Magomedov speaking on the work the republic's authorities are carrying out to prevent ethnic and religious tensions; p 4 (2,850 words).

9. Alexei Sokovnin article headlined "Velsky District Court Underestimates Danger of Platon Lebedev" details the ruling of the Arkhangelsk regional court which overturned the ruling to reduce the jail sentence of former Yukos boss Platon Lebedev; p 5 (541 words).

10. Yelena Chernenko article headlined "Middle East to Be Exposed to Security" says Russia is a co-organizer of an international conference aiming to look for ways of making the Middle East free from nuclear, chemical and biological weapons; p 7 (498 words).

11. Yelena Chernenko article headlined "Ambassador to Italy Gets Promotion" says Russian Ambassador to Italy Alexei Meshkov is likely to become a new deputy of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov; p 7 (381 words).

12. Maria Yefimova article headlined "Council of Europe to Deal With Magnitsky Case" says PACE is to draft another report criticizing Russia in connection with the case of former Hermitage Capital lawyer Sergei Magnitsky who died in custody; p 7 (377 words).

13. Maxim Yusin article headlined "Muslim Brotherhood Gets Down to Jordan" says Jordan is facing a similar fate as Egypt and Syria, as the Muslim Brotherhood movement plans to topple the country's regime; p 7 (580 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Sergei Kulikov article headlined "EU Reveals Gazprom's Secrets" says Estonia has banned research into the seabed in its territorial waters, scrapping Gazprom's plans to build more pipelines as part of the Nord Stream project. Moreover, the EU will not tolerate any secret agreement reached by the Russian gas monopoly and European governments; pp 1, 4 (1,059 words).

2. Igor Naumov article headlined "Finance Ministry Exchanges Old Debts for New Ones" comments on the Russian Finance Ministry's plans to borrow up to 4,000 billion rubles (around $126 billion) in three years to pay back old debts and fill the so called Reserve Fund; pp 1, 4 (889 words).

3. Alexandra Samarina article headlined "TV Shot Misses Target" says a new controversial film by NTV portraying Russian opposition activists as corrupt politicians does not do the authorities any good as they are losing their last chance to start talking to the opposition; pp 1, 3 (719 words).

4. Yury Roks article headlined "Ivanishvili Begins With Reducing Prices" reports on the transfer of power in Georgia after the opposition coalition Georgian Dream won the parliamentary elections; pp 1, 7 (711 words).

5. Vladimir Skosyrev article headlined "Seoul Increases Missile Stakes Up to 800Km" says the U.S.A. has allowed South Korea to have 800-kilometer-range missiles. The move is expected to escalate tensions in the region; pp 1, 8 (494 words).

6. Andrei Serenko article headlined "Media Battle on Volga" reports on the regional media forum held in Volgograd, where competition with internet-based media was discussed; pp 1 — 2 (522 words).

7. Editorial headlined "Threat of New War in Middle East" looks at the possibility of Turkey getting involved in the Syrian conflict; p 2 (511 words).

8. Alexei Gorbachev article headlined "4th Term as Present" reports on the celebration of President Putin's 60th birthday by his supporters and opponents; p 3 (347 words).

9. Nikloai Surkov article headlined "Iran to Offer Plan for Resolving Nuclear Problem" says under the pressure of economic difficulties Iran has started speaking on its readiness to suspend uranium enrichment to ease international sanctions; p 8 (586 words).

Izvestia

1. Vladimir Gusev article headlined "Presidential Human Rights Council Head Mikhail Fedotov Asked to Leave Voluntarily" says United Russia deputies have suggested that the head of the human rights council under the president, Mikhail Fedotov, should resign after he backed the PACE resolution on Russia; pp 1, 3 (760 words).

2. Sergei Roganov article headlined "Unremarkable Phenomenon of Russian Politics" slams the Russian opposition for questioning the popularity of President Putin and criticizing his political course; pp 1, 7 (802 words).

3. Alexander Grigoryev et al. report headlined "Investigators Look for Case in 'Anatomy of Protest 2'" comments on the film criticizing the Russian opposition shown by NTV on Oct. 5; pp 1, 4 (739 words).

4. Ivan Cheberko article headlined "Baikonur Close to Decline" says the Russian and Kazakh authorities have failed to agree on the development plans for the Baikonur cosmodrome, so it is likely to close eventually; p 2 (496 words).

5. Konstantin Volkov article headlined "Russians Detained for Espionage in U.S.A. Facing Prison Sentence Starting With One Year" details charges brought against a group of citizens from former Soviet republics arrested over industrial espionage in the U.S.A.; p 5 (435 words).

6 Irina Kezik and Alexander Gudkov article headlined "Russia to Clear Kazakh Oil Schemes Through Customs" says President Putin is to meet with his Kazakh counterpart in late October to discuss the re-export of Russian oil to China. Moscow is worried by Kazakhstan's plans to increase re-export without paying additional duties to the Russian budget; p 8 (891 words).

Vedomosti

1. Roman Shleynov article headlined "3rd One From Gunvor" says Gennady Timchenko's childhood friend Pyotr Kolbin turned out to have been the third co-owner of the Gunvor oil trader; p 1 (598 words).

2. Rinat Sagdiyev et al. report headlined "He Is Also Incredibly Smart" reviews projects lost by businessman Vladimir Antonov labelled as revolutionary by the NTV channel; pp 1, 12 (2,468 words).

3. Maxim Tovkailo article headlined "It Is Time for Government to Withdraw" comments on the concept of federal property management drafted by the Economic Development Ministry which advises the government to sell more assets; pp 1, 3 (645 words).

4. Editorial headlined "Clinical Case" says Russian health care is no longer free as patients have to bribe doctors and nurses to receive good treatment. The article welcomes the government's plans to make some services chargeable; pp 1, 4 (537 words).

5. Another editorial headlined "Politkovskaya Street" recalls the murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya and notes that journalists in Russia are still not protected by the state; p 4 (296 words).

6. Lyudmila Sergeyeva and Darya Ilyashko article headlined "Protest Is Fashionable" says public opinion polls show that the number of people supporting opposition protests in Russia is growing; p 2 (349 words).

7. Maria Zheleznova article headlined "Not Only Navalny" reports on the election of members of the opposition Coordinating Council, most of the candidates are real activists rather than popular public figures; p 2 (421 words).

8. Lilia Biryukova article headlined "Man of Week: Bidzina Ivanishvili" says businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili remains a mystery for Russia and for Georgia even if the latter voted for him at the recent elections; p 4 (300 words).

9. Sergei Markedonov article headlined "Russia-Georgia: Ghost of Yanukovych" looks at prospects for the restoration of Russian-Georgian ties after the opposition's victory in the Georgian parliamentary elections; p 4 (778 words).

9. Lilia Biryukova interview with acting Georgian Economic Development Minister Vera Kobalia speaking on the country's economy, Russian embargo and business of some Russian entrepreneurs in Georgia; p 5 (2,996 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Tamara Mikhailova article headlined "Autopsy Shows" says the Russian Investigative Committee has started checking the information revealed by the NTV film on the Russian opposition; pp 1, 8 (1,014 words).

2. Yury Gavrilov article headlined "To Do Service in Church and Armed Forces" reports on the deferment from military service for Russian priests guaranteed by the new government decree; pp 1, 4 (719 words).

3. Leonid Polyakov article headlined "Russia With Putin" praises Putin's regime; p 2 (1,431 words).

4. Alexander Mikhailov article headlined "That Is a Different Era" reports on the discussion of President Putin's achievements held by experts in Moscow; p 2 (600 words).

RBK Daily

1. Alexander Litoi article headlined "New Course of 'Anatomy'" says the Russian opposition plans to prove that the new NTV film on their actions is defamatory; p 2 (580 words).

2. Tatyana Kosobokova interview with Tula region Governor Vladimir Gruzdev speaking on his work and economic development plans for the region; p 5 (1,600 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda

1. Sergei Vladimirov article headlined "Modern Challenges for Modern President" looks at why President Vladimir Putin enjoys the backing of the majority of population; p 4 (800 words).

2. Alexander Bozhedomsky article headlined "Conceptual Blow" looks at two reports on Russia's political development that have been presented to the general public this month; p 6 (1,200 words).

3. Yulia Latynina article headlined "Everybody, Go to Vote" looks at why there is a need for elections to the opposition Coordination Council; p 11 (1,100 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. "Victim Found for Dagestan Wedding" says a mother of a 3-year-old boy claims that her son was injured during firing at the recent Dagestani wedding in central Moscow; pp 1-2 (296 words).

2. Dmitry Popov article headlined "Anatomy of Udaltsov" comments on the NTV film portraying opposition activist Sergei Udaltsov as a corrupt politician receiving money from abroad; pp 1-2 (563 words).

Moskovskiye Novosti

1. Irina Granik article in "Big Politics" supplement headlined "United Russia Without Quotes" analyzes how Russian people can be united; pp 2-3 (1,500 words).

2. Svetlana Babayeva article in "Big Politics" supplement headlined "Savior, Not Reformer" looks at Russian President Vladimir Putin's reaction to protests and says that most people want protection rather than freedom; p 8 (850 words).

3. Alexei Zhernov article headlined "New Discovery of Putin" looks at what pundits expect from Russian President Vladimir Putin's third term; p 3 (600 words).

Novaya Gazeta

1. Sergei Sokolov article headlined "Technology of Killing" looks at the how the murder of Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya was being prepared; pp 2-3 (2,500 words).

2. Pavel Felgengauer article headlined "Reset Gets Stuck" comments on the arrest of former Soviet citizens in the U.S. on industrial espionage charges; p 8 (667 words).

3. Irina Gordiyenko article headlined "Provokadze" calls for an independent expert examination of the NTV film on Russian opposition activists; p 10 (1,829 words).

4. Vitaly Yaroshevsky interview with Oleg Orlov, an activist from the Memorial human rights NGO, speaking on the new law obliging NGOs receiving funding from abroad to get registered as foreign agents; pp 12-13 (2,500 words).

Oct. 8, 2012/BBC Monitoring/©BBC

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