Kommersant
1. Olga Mordyushenko article headlined "Norway Gets Separated From Shtokman" says that Norway's Statoil has handed over its 24 percent stake in Shtokman Development AG to Gazprom. French Total is expected to quit the project as well; p 1 (865 words).
2. Ivan Safronov article headlined "They Cannot Gather Speed" comments on the failure of the Russian Proton rocket to bring two communications satellites to the desirable orbit; pp 1, 4 (753 words).
3. Alexei Sokovnin article headlined "Yukos Case Being Fit Into New Terms" says that a court in the Arkhangelsk region may reduce the sentence of former Menatep owner Platon Lebedev allowing him to be released in October 2014; pp 1, 3 (669 words).
4. Alexandra Bayazitova and Svetlana Dementyeva article headlined "Deposit Insurance Agency Reinsures Risks" says the Russian Deposit Insurance Agency has revised its approach to recovery of troubled banks pp 1, 8 (568 words).
5. Irina Nagornykh et al. report headlined "United Russia Finds Itself in Ulyanovsk Region" says Ulyanovsk region official Dmitry Travkin has a good chance of being elected new head of United Russia's executive committee; p 2 (595 words).
6. Unattributed article polls experts and public figures who propose their candidates to be released from prison; p 3 (410 words).
7. Oleg Kashin article headlined "Three-Year Way From Church" says that a prosecutor has demanded that members of the Pussy Riot punk group be sentenced to three years in prison for their performance in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow; p 3 (711 words).
8. Vladislav Trifonov and Yevgeny Khvosik article headlined "Hermitage to Become Defendant in 'Magnitsky List'" says that former investigator Pavel Karpov has appealed to the High Court of London asking to defend his honor and dignity as the Hermitage Capital fund management named Karpov one of the officials to be blamed for lawyer Sergei Magnitsky's death; p 3 (733 words).
9. Yelena Chernenko article headlined "Russia Goes Out of Image" says the Pussy Riot trial will spoil Russia's image abroad. However, it is not likely to affect Russia's economic cooperation with Western countries; p 6 (624 words).
10. Pavel Tarasenko article headlined "Iran Begins Peaceful Interference in Syria" says Tehran has stepped up a negotiation process over the Syrian conflict in an attempt to prevent a large-scale war in the region; p 6 (496 words).
11. Sergei Strokan article headlined "China and U.S.A. Pull Island" comments on a new conflict between the U.S.A. and China over an island in the South China Sea; p 6 (572 words).
12. Viktor Smeyukha article headlined "Taliban to Make Money on American Continent" says that Taliban plans to make money on the U.S. and NATO cargo transit in Afghanistan by making security companies guarding the cargo pay for crossing the territory controlled by the militants; p 6 (424 words).
Nezavisimaya Gazeta
1. Vladimir Mukhin article headlined "Caucasus 2012 Maneuvers Toward Sochi 2014" looks ahead at the large-scale military exercise Caucasus 2012 to be held in southern Russia in mid-September as part of preparation for the Sochi Olympics; pp 1, 3 (1,018 words).
2. Olga Shulga and Alexandra Samarina article headlined "Pussy Riot, Madonna and Banner Carriers" reports on recent developments in the Pussy Riot trial; pp 1, 3 (898 words).
3. Anastasia Bashkatova article headlined "London Olympics Frightens Everyone" says the organizers of the Olympic Games in Sochi will take into consideration the mistakes made by the British authorities organizing the Olympics in London. Londoners were scared of the influx of tourists and left the city, while visitors were afraid of high prices on Olympic tickets and stayed at home; pp 1, 4 (1,083 words).
4. Alexei Gorbachev article headlined "Fear as Medicine Against Rallies" says that opposition activists and the lawyers of those who are under investigation in connection with the May 6 rally are complaining about pressure from law-enforcement agencies; pp 1, 3 (827 words).
5. Sergei Kulikov article headlined "IMF Asks to Ease Choker on Greece's Neck" says the International Monetary Fund has called on the EU to ease conditions for Greek loans; pp 1, 4 (729 words).
6. Yury Paniyev article headlined "Washington Aims at Black Continent" reviews the African tour of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; pp 1-2 (685 words).
7. Editorial headlined "Unprecedented Typhoon in Pacific Ocean" comments on the U.S.-Chinese conflict over islands in the South China Sea; p 2 (521 words).
8. Gleb Postnov article headlined "Black Banner Over Kazan" comments on the growing activity of radicals in Tatarstan and compares their protest mood with the events in 1991; p 3 (691 words).
9. Andrei Serenko article headlined "Kind South of Volgograd Opposition" comments on the opening of the first summer camp of activists in Volgograd showing the growing civil activity in the region; p 3 (585 words).
10. Vladimir Skosyrev article headlined "Ruling Alliance Falls Apart in Britain" says that British Prime Minister David Cameron is afraid of carrying out a planned reform of the House of Lords. The decision puts the ruling coalition at risk as Liberal Democrats insist on the reform; p 6 (540 words).
11. Yury Roks article headlined "Iranian Problem of Russia and Armenia" looks at the Armenian president's visit to Moscow on Aug. 8, when the situation in the Middle East and Iran, in particular, are expected to be discussed; p 6 (785 words).
12. Viktor Krasilshchikov report "Brazilian Lessons for Russia" says that without democracy, successful modernization of the country is impossible; p 5 (2,000 words).
Vedomosti
1. Olga Plotonova and Tatyana Voronova article headlined "Deposits on Holidays" says that dollar and euro rates, as well as a holiday season in Russia, have resulted in reduction in the volume of individual deposits in Russian banks; p 7 (600 words).
2. Natalya Kostenko et al. report headlined "Generals' Level" says President Vladimir Putin's instructions to make the salaries of the presidential administration officials equal to the pay of senior officers will in practice mean a rise in salaries for the officials; pp 1-2 (713 words).
3. Editorial headlined "Analysis of Short Hits" looks at the reasons for repeated failures of satellite launches in Russia; pp 1, 4 (488 words).
4. Anastasia Kornya article headlined "Cost of Punk Prayer" says that a Moscow court has not heard Putin's advice not to judge Pussy Riot too severely, as the prosecutor asked for a three-year sentence for the girls; p 2 (436 words).
5. Anastasia Kornya and Alexei Nikolsky article headlined "New Chance for Lebedev" says that a prosecutor has suggested that the sentence of former Yukos co-owner Platon Lebedev be reduced; p 2 (451 words).
6. Another editorial headlined "Shtokman Written Off" comments on the decision of Statoil to get rid of its stake in the Shtokman project; p 4 (317 words).
7. Alexei Nikolsky and Maria Zheleznova article headlined "Film From Future" comments on video uploaded in the internet, in which retired military commanders criticize Dmitry Medvedev for a lack of decisive actions at the beginning of the armed conflict with Georgia in August 2008; p 1 (373 words).
8. Oksana Gavshina report "Statoil Leaves" says that the company Statoil, one of the shareholders of the Shtokman project, has returned its stake to Gazprom; p 1 (700 words).
9. Andrei Kolesnikov report "Expert in Enemy's Rear" tries to find out if it is worthwhile to cooperate with the authorities in Russia; p 4 (600 words).
10. Ksenia Boletrskaya report "STS Media Loses Tools" says that the ratings of the STS TV channel have dropped; p 7 (600 words).
Izvestia
1. Tatyana Shirmanova article headlined "Rosselkhozbank Forgets About Farmers" says the Audit Chamber has found out that Rosselkhozbank, set up to provide financial assistance to farmers, started giving more loans to its own staff; pp 1, 3 (600 words).
2. Anastasia Novikova and Natalya Galimova article headlined "All-Russia People's Front to Become Separate Brand in State Duma" says State Duma deputies representing the All-Russia People's Front will submit their own bills for consideration without attributing them to United Russia; pp 1-2 (600 words).
3. Pyer Sidibe article headlined "High-Ranking Officials Will Be Hired on Competitive Basis" says the Russian government is to announce a contest to fill four positions in several ministries and federal agencies; pp 1, 3 (600 words).
4. Anna Pozina interview headlined "Everyone Will Criticize Public TV" with Public TV head Anatoly Lysenko speaking about work on the concept of the TV channel; pp 1, 7 (800 words).
5. Pyer Sidibe article "Vladimir Putin Readdressed Makarevich to Businessmen" looks at Putin's reply to musician Andrei Makarevich's letter where he expressed concern about large-scale corruption in Russia; p 2 (600 words).
6. Konstantin Volkov report "Churches Continue to Suffer Because of Pussy Riot" says that a professor from the Helsinki University and two girls dressed like members of the Pussy Riot group have staged a protest in Helsinki; p 4 (600 words).
7. Pyotr Kozlov report "Iranians Not Allowed to Train as Nuclear Physicists at MIFI" says that students from Iran have not been accepted at the Russian research nuclear university MIFI for several years now; p 4 (600 words).
Rossiiskaya Gazeta
1. Ksenia Dubicheva et al. report headlined "Prices Wear Out" looks at a hike in prices on bread in Russian regions; pp 1-2 (905 words).
2. Vladimir Snegirev interview headlined "Very Close East" with academician and Middle East expert Yevgeny Primakov speaking on the situation in Syria and in the Middle East, in general; pp 1, 6 (2,942 words).
3. Irina Nevinnaya interview "Pay for Treatment" with senior Industry and Trade Ministry official Sergei Tsyb speaking on the development of the Russian pharmaceutical industry; pp 1, 3 (1,115 words).
4. Yury Gavrilov interview with Grigory Naginsky, head of the Spetsstroi construction agency, speaking on projects being implemented by the agency; p 6 (2,376 words).
5. Yevgeny Shestakov article headlined "Dangerous 'Sharm'" looks at the security situation in Egypt following recent clashes on the border with Israel; p 8 (504 words).
6. Maxim Makarychev article headlined "They Make Him Drink to Death" says that the wife of Chinese official Bo Xilai has confessed to poisoning a British businessman; p 8 (413 words).
Moskovsky Komsomolets
1. Newspaper publishes an open letter to Putin by rock musician Andrei Makarevich headlined "You Are, Of Course, Very Familiar With the Word 'Kickback.'" The author raises alarm over the level of corruption in the country; pp 1-2 (266 words).
2. Ignat Kalinin article headlined "Proton-M Means 'Rubbish'" slams the Russian space sector over failure to take into orbit two communications satellites; pp 1-2 (477 words).
3. Yulia Kalinina article headlined "Lads Drive" says that Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's motorcade has hit a car of a local resident during the recent visit of senior officials to Kamchatka and the local traffic police turned a blind eye to the incident; pp 1, 3 (681 words).
4. Artur Gasparyan interview with Andrei Makarevich speaking on his appeal to Putin; p 2 (857 words).
5. Newspaper publishes the comments of blogger Alexei Navalny, economist Vladislav Inozemtsev and chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Committee Kirill Kabanov on Makarevich's letter to Putin; p 2 (550 words).
6. Yulia Chernukhina report "Court Likes Trinity" says that the members of the Pussy Riot punk group face three years in prison; pp 1, 3 (600 words).
RBK Daily
1. Anastasia Fomicheva article headlined "Cultured and Angry" comments on a recent study of the language used by Russian Internet users, who proved to be cynical and aggressive; pp 1, 7 (600 words).
2. Alexander Litoi article headlined "Sentence Between Lines" says that a linguistics examination has revealed elements of ethnic hatred in a recent statement by Krasnodar region Governor Alexander Tkachyov urging Cossacks to oust North Caucasus nationals from the region; p 2 (550 words).
3. Sergei Gusev interview with South Ossetian President Leonid Tibilov recalling the conflict with Georgia in 2008 and speaking on the current development of the republic; p 3 (900 words).
4. Ilya Shepelin report "To Be Punished Out of Turn" says that opposition Deputy Gennady Gudkov has said that the Kremlin has a list of people who are hindering the authorities. The Kremlin has dismissed the statement as nonsense; p 2 (450 words).
Novaya Gazeta
1. Irina Gordiyenko article headlined "Salafists Who Are Near Us" reports on religious and security situation in the North Caucasus republic of Dagestan; pp 14-15 (2,757 words).
2. Emil Dabagyan article headlined "Forced to Oeace" speaks on the fourth anniversary of the Russian-Georgian armed conflict; p 8 (503 words).
3. Yulia Latynina article headlined "New Convergence" slams U.S. President Barack Obama over his recent speech in which he minimized the personal achievements of people and attributed the success of anybody to the support of society; p 9 (1,362 words).
4. Article by Mikhail Khodorkovsky on the Pussy Riot trial; p 2 (773 words).
5. Irina Levinskaya report "On Men and Dogs" looks at the Pussy Riot trial; p 3 (900 words).
Komsomolskaya Pravda
1. Yulia Alyokhina report "Last One From Assad Clan" looks at the situation in Syria and at its President Bashar Assad; p 9 (1,000 words).
Tvoi Den
1. Yekaterina Sidorova report "English Patient" says that Andrei Borodin, former head of Bank of Moscow, wanted in Russia, has bought a palace in Britain; p 2 (300 words).
Noviye Izvestia
1. Sergei Putilov article headlined "Space Agony" looks at consequences of the recent failed launch of communications satellites in Russia; p 3 (700 words).
August 8, 2012/BBC Monitoring/©BBC
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