What the Papers Say, July 30, 2012

Kommersant

1. Maria Yakovleva et al. report headlined "Pension Fund Brought Beyond Hazardous Line" says Russians working at hazardous production facilities may be stripped of early pensions guaranteed by the state. People seeking retirement will have to discuss its terms with their employers; pp 1, 8 (834 words).

2. Afsati Dzhusoyti article headlined "Man Who Throws Putin Down" says judo wrestler Arsen Galstyan won Russia's first gold medal at the London Olympics; p 1 (282 words).

3. Natalya Bashlykova article headlined "United Russia Catches Itself Red-Handed" comments on a scandal during the Ryazan region gubernatorial primaries, where local deputy and United Russia member Sergei Salnikov accused the party leadership of forging the results of the primaries held ahead of the gubernatorial election. Experts speak on the split of the regional elite; pp 1-2 (1,031 words).

4. Kirill Melnikov article headlined "BP to Pay for Deal With Rosneft" says minority shareholders of TNK-BP joint venture have managed to win a lawsuit against BP. A court in Tyumen ruled that BP has to pay 100 billion rubles (around $3 billion) over its plans to deal with Rosneft without informing its partners within the joint venture; pp 1, 7 (684 words).

5. Irina Nagornykh article headlined "United Russia Members Learn to Speak Out From Regions" says a total of 19 candidates are willing to take part in the election of the head of United Russia's executive committee. Many of them unexpectedly started criticizing the system of making decisions within the party whereby Moscow ignores proposals of the regions; p 2 (756 words).

6. Maxim Ivanov article headlined "Small Number of Parties Preferred to Small Parties" says a recent public opinion poll carried out by Levada Center has shown that most Russians do not need more than two or three large parties and do not support the idea of the multiparty system; p 2 (526 words).

7. Grigory Tumanov and Oleg Rubnikovich article headlined "Alexei Navalny Being Taken to Kirovles" says opposition activist Alexei Navalny has been summoned for questioning after he accused the Investigative Committee head Alexander Bastrykin of illegal business activity in the Czech Republic; p 4 (656 words).

8. Vladimir Solovyev interview with Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin speaking on ways of resolving the Transdnestr territorial conflict; p 6 (565 words).

9. Vladimir Solovyev article headlined "Independence Denied to Transdnestr Republic" says Russia has suggested that Transdnestr, which has been seeking independence for over 20 years should join Moldova with a special autonomy status; p 6 (405 words).

10. Maxim Yusin article headlined "U.S.A. Stands Up for Bashar Assad's Allies" says Washington has started working with the Syrian opposition to avoid the split of the country under the Iraqi scenario; p 6 (452 words).

11. Kirill Belyaninov article headlined "Weapons Do Not Obey General Rules" says the U.S.A. and Russia have prevented the signing of an international agreement on arms trade drafted by the UN; p 6 (484 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Viktor Litovkin article headlined "Gabala's Female Revolt" says the wives of Russian officers working at the Gabala radar facility in Azerbaijan have complained to the president about the Defense Ministry's plans to close a local kindergarten and school; pp 1-2 (947 words).

2. Tatyana Ivzhenko article headlined "Election Campaign in Ukraine as Continuation of Euro 2012" comments on the beginning of the parliamentary election campaign in Ukraine; pp 1, 6 (972 words).

3. Olga Shulga article headlined "Limited Nationality" says United Russia has drafted a bill prohibiting media to name the nationality of people committing crimes; pp 1, 3 (718 words).

4. Anastasia Bashkatova article headlined "Investment Climate in Russia for Our Companies and Outsiders" says large foreign companies working in Russia enjoy greater benefits than domestic businesses; pp 1, 4 (772 words).

5. Sergei Kulikov article headlined "Labor Market Plunges Into Hibernation" says the economic slowdown is affecting salaries of Russians; pp 1, 4 (850 words).

6. Nikolai Surkov article headlined "Saudi Arabians Take Revenge on Moscow for Support of Assad" says Saudi Arabia cancels business contracts with Russia due to Moscow's support of Bashar Assad's regime; pp 1, 6 (567 words).

7. Vladimir Mukhin article headlined "Recruiting to Help" says the Russian Defense Ministry plans to hire up to 25 percent of professional servicemen. Western-type recruitment offices will be set up all over the country; p 2 (565 words).

8. Editorial headlined "Lining Up to Church" says different political forces, including the Communists, are expressing support for the Russian Orthodox Church; p 2 (486 words).

9. Andrei Melnikov article headlined "Why Have They Made a Sacral Victim Out of Pussy Riot?" says the Kremlin used the Pussy Riot case to divert public protest from economic and social issues to the moral and religious sphere; p 3 (783 words).

10. Vladimir Skosyrev article headlined "China's Communist Party Preparing Trial of Political Bureau's Member" speaks about the investigation of activities of a former member of the Chinese political leadership and his wife; p 6 (705 words).

11. Artur Blinov article headlined "Olympics — First Scandals and First Golden Medals" says U.S. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has made improper comments on the security at the London Olympics, which triggered a scandal; p 7 (511 words).

Vedomosti

1. Oksana Gavshina and Timofei Dzyatko article headlined "Bill Sent to BP" says TNK-BP minority shareholders have won the case against BP which was obliged to pay $3 billion in compensation. The court ruling is expected to affect Russia's investment climate; pp 1, 8 (829 words).

2. Roman Shleynov article headlined "Credit Stories" reviews scandalous stories in the work of Russia's Vneshtorgbank; pp 1, 12 (2,826 words).

3. Olga Kuvshinova article headlined "Business Ready for Crisis" says Russian businesses are going to reduce working hours and wages in response to the economic crisis; pp 1, 3 (829 words).

4. Editorial headlined "Beyond Law" says there is no law in Russia to try Pussy Riot punk group and notes that the authorities should have asked public opinion before drafting the law on blasphemy; pp 1, 4 (603 words).

5. Natalya Kostenko article headlined "'Democracy Ripening From Inside'" comments on Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's visit to the London Olympics; p 2 (410 words).

7. Maria Zheleznova article headlined "Bastrykin's Response" says the Investigative Committee is taking revenge on opposition activist Alexei Navalny who may be jailed over allegations of his involvement in the Kirovles company case; p 2 (347 words).

8. Tatyana Lysova article headlined "Man of Week: Vladimir Churov" says Central Elections Commission head Vladimir Churov's visit to the Seliger pro-Kremlin youth camp has once again shown that he has no remorse over violations during the recent election campaigns; p 4 (289 words).

9. Another editorial headlined "Green Arctic" slams the Russian government's policy toward hydrocarbons exploration in the Arctic; p 4 (345 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Nikolai Dolgopolov article headlined "Prime Minister in Long Stroll" comments on British Prime Minister David Cameron's visit to the Olympic facilities; p 4 (450 words).

2. Nikolai Dolgopolov article headlined "Waiting for Guests" comments on the opening of the Russian Olympic headquarters in London; p 6 (300 words).

Izvestia

1. Olga Tropkina interview with the Investigative Committee head Alexander Bastrykin speaking on Navalny's revelations about Bastrykin's housing and business in Prague; pp 1, 4 (1,803 words).

2. Ivan Cheberko article headlined "Federal Security Service Gets Interested in Glonass" says the Russian Federal Security Service has started its own probe into the misuse of public funds allocated for the development of the Glonass navigation system; pp 1, 5 (411 words).

3. Maria Zhebit article headlined "Audit Chamber Warns About New Dangers at Hydroelectric Power Plants and Dams" says the Audit Chamber is raising the alarm over the lack of proper maintenance at Russian hydroelectric power plants and dams making the facilities dangerous; pp 1, 5 (550 words).

4. Natalya Galimova article headlined "Dmitry Medvedev Appreciates British Humor at Olympics" says PM Medvedev who headed the Russian delegation at the London Olympics was impressed by the opening ceremony; p 2 (541 words).

5. Natalya Galimova article headlined "Dmitry Medvedev Does Not Rule Out Possibility of Running for President" comments on PM Medvedev's interview with The Times; p 2 (802 words).

6. Pyer Sidibe article headlined "Sveta From Ivanovo Being Invited to United Russia" says United Russia is inviting Svetlana Kuritsyna, NTV host who gained popularity after expressing support for Putin during the election campaign, to join the ruling party; p 3 (436 words).

7. Anastasia Kashevarova article headlined "Russia to Have 'National Guard' of Businessmen" says the Russian government wants to bring back Russian businessmen who still prefer to set up offshore companies; 2 (550 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Olga Boguslavskaya article headlined "Message From Olympus" comments on the highlights of the opening ceremony of the London Olympics; p 1 (531 words).

2. Vladislav Inozemtsev article headlined "Authorities in Role of Navalny" proposes measures to make state purchases more transparent and free of corruption; p 3 (1,131 words).

Novaya Gazeta

1. Irek Murtazin interview with opposition activist Alexei Navalny speaking on his probe into the business activity of Alexander Bastrykin in the Czech Republic and charges brought by the law enforcement agencies against the activist; p 9 (1,516 words).

2. Yulia Latynina article headlined "Atrophy" says Putin's regime is ignoring vital migration, economic and social problems in the country and is trying to curb protest activity instead; p 7 (890 words).

RBK Daily

1. Yaroslav Nikolayev article headlined "Civil Sparring" comments on the new Civil Code in Russia. State-controlled corporations may get a special legal status; pp 1-2 (1,100 words).

2. Ivan Petrov article headlined "Course to Seychelles" comments on Russia's plans to set up three navy bases overseas despite the fact that it lacks navy ships to deploy there; p 2 (600 words).

3. Yulia Gallyamova interview with Russian Railways head Vladimir Yakunin speaking on the planned reforms within the railway giant; pp 4, 5 (3,200 words).

4. Businessman Yevgeny Chichvarkin article headlined "London in Siege" comments on London life during the Olympics; p 11 (300 words).

5. Dina Belyayeva article headlined "Purely English Ceremony" says the opening ceremony at the London Olympics turned out to be exciting and majestic; p 11 (550 words).

July 30, 2012/BBC Monitoring/©BBC