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What the Papers Say, Dec. 11, 2012

Igor Tabakov

Kommersant

1. Andrei Kolesnikov article headlined "He Comes to Authorized Representatives" gives details of President Vladimir Putin's meeting with the public figures, who acted as his authorized representatives. He asked them to continue fighting against corruption; pp 1-2 (2,186 words).

2. Ivan Safronov et al. report headlined "Roar of Cosmodrome" says that Kazakhstan plans to reduce the number of Russian Proton rocket launches from the Baikonur cosmodrome and wants to revise the cosmodrome lease agreement; pp 1, 7 (845 words).

3. Vladimir Dzaguto article headlined "RusHydro Directors Work Under Pressure" says the government has managed to persuade the board of directors of the RusHydro energy company to back the additional issuance of shares to increase the company's capital by 50 billion rubles (around $1.6 billion); pp 1, 10 (645 words).

4. Pavel Belavin et al. report headlined "Mikhail Prokhorov Subscribes to Vedomosti" says that the RBK holding company controlled by billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov is conducting talks to buy the business daily Vedomosti; pp 1, 12 (751 words).

5. Maxim Ivanov article headlined "Constitution Ready for Repairs" says that few Russians are aware of the fact that it is the day of the Russian Constitution that is marked on Dec. 12. Sociologists believe that people will not mind amendments to the constitution; p 2 (533 words).

6. Viktor Khamrayev article headlined "Like Deputy to Congressman" says the Russian State Duma is taking measures to respond to the Magnitskiy Act. U.S. citizens suspected of violating rights of Russians will not be allowed to enter Russia and will not be able to own any assets in Russia; p 2 (706 words).

7. Grigory Tumanov and Ilya Shepelin article headlined "Pussy Riot Breaks Through Defense Line" says members of the Pussy Riot punk group are openly arguing with their former lawyers over the flat keys and the passport of Yekaterina Samutsevich, which they refuse to return; p 4 (718 words).

8. Irina Nagornykh article headlined "Pro-Kremlin Fund Invests in New Media" says that the Kontr TV online project has been launched by the pro-Kremlin Institute of Social Economic and Political Studies. Some observers refer to the TV channel as a counterweight to Dozhd TV; p 4 (408 words).

9. Timur Samedov and Nikolai Sergeyev article headlined "Murderer of TV Presenter Planned to Become Head of Bandit Underground" reports on the probe into the murder of TV presenter Kazbek Gekkiyev in Nalchik; p 5 (475 words).

10. Angelina Davydova article headlined "Hot Air Does Not Find Permanent Buyers" says the international climate change conference in Qatar has not yielded any practical results; p 6 (868 words).

11. Kirill Belyaninov article headlined "Russia Left Under Terrorism Threat" says that experts from the international Institute of Economy and Peace have analyzed the situation in 158 countries and listed Russia among the top 10 countries with terrorism threats; p 7 (531 words).

12. Yelena Chernenko article headlined "Sergei Lavrov Asked About Bashar Assad's resignation" says the U.S.A. has proposed Russia a scenario to resolve the Syrian crisis, which envisages the resignation of Bashar Assad. Moscow does not like the plan; p 7 (573 words).

13. Arina Borodina interview with Nikolai Kartozia, head of the holding company Prof-Media TV, who speaks about the company's new project, the Pyatnitsa (Friday) TV channel that will replace MTV Russia as from June 1, 2013; p 14 (2,500 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Darya Tsilyurik article headlined "Doubt Cast on European Peace" says the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the EU has raised many questions worldwide; pp 1, 7 (675 words).

2. Sergei Kulikov article headlined "Russia Stays in Kyoto Protocol With Clear Conscience" says that Russia formally stays within the Kyoto protocol. However, this does not give the country any benefits; pp 1, 4 (695 words).

3. Andrei Serenko article headlined "Investors Offered to Think About Soul" says that Volgograd deputies are ready to erect monuments to large investors in the city and they plan to build an alley of capitalism; pp 1, 5 (563 words).

4. Anastasia Bashkatova article headlined "Negative Information Background Causes Harm to Dagestan" comments on the Dagestani authorities' ambitions to attract Russian and foreign investment. They believe that media creates a negative image of the republic; pp 1-2 (992 words).

5. Ivan Rodin article headlined "United Russia Members to Keep Order Under Control" says that United Russia member Sergei Popov is likely to become the head of the State Duma Committee on Standing Orders and the Organization of Work at the State Duma because the former head of the committee, Ildar Gabdrakhmanov, has been appointed first deputy head of the Moscow region government; pp 1, 3 (448 words).

6. Tatyana Ivzhenko article headlined "Yanukovych Sends Premier Signal to Moscow" says Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is to visit Moscow on 17-18 December. He is to appoint a new prime minister before the visit; pp 1, 6 (1,082 words).

7. Editorial headlined "Officials Believe Gazprom Faces Losses" says the Russian authorities have found new arguments to raise gas tariffs, despite the fact that gas already costs more in Russia that in the U.S.A.; p 2 (564 words).

8. Alexandra Samarina article headlined "There Is Shift Change in Government Again, This Time Staff One" looks at the reshuffle in the Russian Cabinet aiming to strengthen the social block of the government; p 3 (729 words).

9. Alexei Gorbachev report "Bolotnaya Case to Be Presented to State Duma Members" says that the European Parliament is preparing for a meeting with State Duma deputies amid worsening relations between Russia and the West; p 3 (600 words).

10. Igor Naumov article headlined "Irreparable Damages Appear in Skrynnik Case" says the Audit Chamber has not confirmed the theft of 39 billion rubles ($1.2 billion) from the Rosagrolizing company despite allegations voiced by a TV documentary; p 4 (614 words).

11. Nikolai Surkov article headlined "Last Chance of Coming to Agreement Over Peace in Syria" says Washington expects Moscow to reach a compromise on the Syrian issue, as rebels are surrounding Damascus; p 7 (624 words).

12. Maxim Dovgyallo report "Decline of Supranational Quotas" looks at the second stage of the Kyoto protocol; p 14 (2,500 words).

Vedomosti

1. Editorial headlined "Territory Without Money" slams the Russian Central Bank policy, which charges people keeping their money in the affiliates of foreign banks additional 13 percent of income tax; pp 1, 4 (572 words).

2. Maxim Tovkailo report "Jump Worth 52Bln" looks at the problem with building an Olympic facility in Sochi; pp 1, 3 (600 words).

3. Yelena Vinogradova report "Nowhere to Grow Further" says that growth of the Russian car market seems to be over; pp 1, 13 (600 words).

4. Dmitry Kazmin report "Tax Experts Not Needed" says that the Investigations Committee has suggested that an old procedure of instituting criminal proceedings, without obligatory tax checks, be reinstated to overcome collapse with criminal cases relating to tax violations; pp 1, 3 (700 words).

5. Editorial headlined "Faces Pleasant in All Respects" says that Putin's meeting with his authorized representatives was aimed at resolving the current task to create a positive atmosphere ahead of the presidential address to the Federal Assembly. However, the meeting is not to help Putin receive feedback on his policy; p 4 (344 words).

6. Maria Zheleznova article headlined "Ineffective, But Unavoidable" says that a recent public opinion poll has shown that Russians find Dmitry Medvedev's cabinet to be ineffective; however, they expect Medvedev to continue working on his post until 2018; p 2 (438 words).

7. Irina Novikova report "Sanctions for Verdicts" says that the State Duma's response to the Magnitsky Act envisages restrictions regarding not only entry to Russia, but also business; p 2 (600 words).

8. Alexei Nikolsky report "Without Radar in Caucasus" says that Russia has shut down the radar in Qabala, Azerbaijan, over disagreement over its lease price; p 2 (500 words).

9. Tatyana Lysova report in the column "Quote of the Week" looks at Medvedev's comments on Investigative Committee employees in his recent interview to five Russian TV channels; p 4 (500 words).

10. Yelizaveta Sergina et al. interview with chairman of Rostelecom board of directors Ivan Rodionov speaking on the problems of the state corporation and investment plans; p 7 (3,890 words).

Izvestia

1. Yelizaveta Mayetnaya and Svetlana Gromova article headlined "Investigators Discover New Defense Ministry Sales" gives new details of the probe into the Defense Ministry corruption case; pp 1, 4 (1,080 words).

2. Vladimir Dergachev article headlined "Audience to Be Protected From TV Broadcast of Catastrophes" says that A Just Russia lawmaker Oleg Mikheyev has drafted a bill obliging TV channels to dedicate less than 30 percent of broadcast time to negative information; pp 1, 3 (395 words).

3. Anna Akhmadiyeva and Ivan Cheberko article headlined "Sanoma Independent Media Finds New General Director" says that Yulia Solovyova, former head of the ProfMedia holding company, will become new general director of Sanoma Independent Media; pp 1, 3 (578 words).

4. Svetlana Subbotina article headlined "Opposition Coordination Council Has Internal Opposition" says that 26 opposition activists, who have failed to get elected members of the Coordination Council, have started criticizing their colleagues; p 2 (582 words).

5. Tatyana Shirmanova report "Federal Tax Service, Central Bank and Interior Ministry Will Compile Blacklist of Companies" says that a blacklist of the companies involved in illegal financial operations will be created in Russia; p 3 (600 words).

6. Mikhail Vignansky article headlined "Russia and Georgia Advised to Exchange Trade Missions" says that Russian and Georgian delegations are to conduct talks in Geneva over trade relations; p 5 (431 words).

7. Alexei Mukhin article headlined "Magnitskiy Act as Lie to Replace Amendment" slams U.S. lawmakers replacing the controversial Jackson-Vanik amendment with the Magnitsky Act; p 9 (869 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Susana Alperina and Oksana Naralenkova interview headlined "Forget Word Rating" with Public TV head Anatoly Lysenko, speaking on the delays with implementation of the TV project; pp 1, 11 (3,131 words).

2. Article by head of the Constitutional Court Valery Zorkin headlined "No Morals in Chaos," who looks at legal issues in the country; pp 1, 9 (3,100 words).

3. Leonid Radzikhovsky article headlined "Main Question" looks at the causes of bribery and corruption in Russia; p 3 (839 words).

4. Boris Yamshanov interview with Gasan Mirzoyev, the president of the Russian Lawyers Guild, speaking on the anti-corruption campaign in Russia; p 6 (1,908 words).

5. Veronika Krasheninnikova article headlined "Double Blow to Russia" comments on the Magnitsky Act; p 8 (1,080 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Irina Grigoryeva article headlined "Failure of Sovereign Demography" looks at Russia's demographic problems and says the measures taken by the authorities are not effective; pp 1-2 (569 words).

2. Marina Ozerova article headlined "To Manage to Do It Before Doomsday" says the State Duma hurries to pass a bill to respond to the Magnitsky Act; pp 1-2 (544 words).

3. Alexander Melman article headlined "How Uncle Vasya Frames Medvedev" comments on a scandal over Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's TV interview, in which he called investigators jerks; pp 1-2 (744 words).

4. Pundit Sergei Samuylov report headlined "Americans Approve Magnitsky Act to Realize Their Own Extraordinary Nature and Nobility" comments on the Magnitsky Act; p 2 (400 words).

RBK Daily

1. Svetlana Makunina and Yulia Yakovleva article "Act for Act" lists possible names to be included on the list of U.S. officials to be subjected to Russian sanctions under a law the State Duma proposes to adopt in response to the U.S. Magnitsky Act; pp 1-2 (300 words).

2. Anastasia Litvinova article "Who Makes Money on State Procurement Order" says this year's budget may lose up to 275 billion rubles on non-transparent procurement deals; p 3 (500 words).

Moskovskiye Novosti

1. Mikhail Moshkin article headlined "People's Volunteer Corps Society" says that civil activists are willing to take on themselves some responsibilities of the Moscow police and fight against illegal migration and drug trafficking; p 2 (600 words).

Noviye Izvestia

1. Anastasia Maltseva article headlined "Final Deal" says that human rights activists receive dozens of complaints regarding illegal financial charges in prisons; pp 1, 5 (700 words).

2. Vera Moslakova article headlined "Any Voting After Flood" says that a United Russia party representative has got 95 percent of votes and has been elected the new head of Krymsk, a town in the Krasnodar region that was badly damaged by flood in summer, although the previous district head and the acting governor of the Krasnodar region, now accused of negligence, are representatives of United Russia as well; p 2 (500 words).

3. Katerina Serebrennikova article headlined "Fun Is Over" says that a prosecutor investigation is taking place at St. Petersburg's world famous Hermitage museum as one of its exhibitions may insult believers' religious feelings; p 4 (400 words).

Krasnaya Zvezda

1. Alexander Tikhonov article headlined "Defense Ministry Makes Allowances" analyzes the redistribution of power within the Defense Ministry announced by First Deputy Defense Minister Col-Gen Arkady Bakhin; pp 1-2 (600 words).

2. Alexander Tikhonov and Mikhail Lukyanov interview with the deputy head of the Russian Federal Service for Control over the Trafficking of Narcotics (FSKN) on the fight against drug trafficking in the Russian army; pp 1-2 (1,100 words).

3. Viktor Ruchkin article headlined "Libyan Scenario as Basis for Intervention" comments on the latest developments and combat operations in Syria; p 3 (1,200 words).

Dec. 11, 2012/BBC Monitoring/©BBC 

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