What the Papers Say, Mar. 7, 2013

Kommersant

1. Pavel Tarasenko and Ivan Safronov article headlined "Russia loses best Hugo" says that Russia risks losing its positions in Latin America after Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez has died; pp 1, 3 (943 words).

2. Sergey Mashkin article headlined "Jewellery exchanged for plastic bracelet" says that investigators have refused to return the money and the jewellery seized from former head of the Defense Ministry's property relations department Yevgeniya Vasilyeva, charged with fraud. Moreover, Vasilyeva was forced to wear an electronic bracelet to control her movement; pp 1, 4 (688 words).

3. Grigory Tumanov article headlined "Pussy Riot has her parole come" says that the convicted Pussy Riot punk band member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova has asked for release on parole; pp 1, 3 (520 words).

4. Oleg Trutnev article headlined "CEDC turns to be indebted to Yuriy Shefler" says that the SPI group, which owns a part of bonds of the Polish alcohol manufacturer Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC), wants to become a partner of Alfa Group and businessman Mark Kaufman to take part in restructuring the debt of the CEDC; pp 1, 5 (667 words).

5. Maksim Ivanov et al. article headlined "Boris Titov speculates for fall" says that Russian businessmen's rights ombudsman Boris Titov has got down to the problem of businessmen's overrated insurance payments. Moreover, he has to do something with his foreign assets given the bill banning Russian officials from having assets abroad; p 2 (834 words).

6. Natalya Gorodetskaya et al. article headlined "Federation Council keeps exit open" says that the Federation Council has terminated the duties of senator Nikolai Olshansky. Speaker Valentina Matviyenko expects at least two more senators to quit the upper chamber of the parliament; p 2 (533 words).

7. Ivan Safronov article headlined "Term of service extended for defense industry" says that President Vladimir Putin has chaired a meeting on the future of Russia's military aviation in Novosibirsk. Putin backed an initiative to oblige plants producing aircraft to carry out all service and repairs of military aircraft; p 2 (504 words).

8. Unattributed article headlined "What do you remember Hugo Chavez for?" features comments by Russian politicians and experts on the late Venezuelan leader; p 3 (423 words).

9. Natalya Gorodetskaya article headlined "Audit Chamber busy with state monopolies" says that Audit Chamber head Sergei Stepashin has delivered a report to the Federation Council; p 4 (521 words).

10. Kirill Melnikov and Anna Solodovnikova article headlined "Rosneft enters Gulf of Mexico" says that the Russian oil company Rosneft and the US company ExxonMobil have agreed that Rosneft will buy 30-per-cent stakes in 20 offshore projects in the Gulf of Mexico; p 5 (506 words).

11. Pavel Belavin article headlined "Tourists do not reach Russia" says that the World Economic Forum has ranked Russia 63rd in a rating of the most competitive countries in terms of tourism. Russia has lost four points; p 7 (464 words).

12. Mikhail Serov and Kirill Sarkhanyants article headlined "Qatar gives up development of Arctic region" says that Qatar Petroleum International no longer plans to participate in the Yamal LNG project being developed by the Novatek independent gas manufacturer; p 7 (686 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Sergey Kulikov article headlined "Russians to answer for Cyprus 'jointly'" says that to avoid collapse in the banking sector, Cyprus may introduce a special solidarity levy on deposit interest in local banks or may freeze all bank deposits worth over 100,000 euros for up to 30 years. Russian depositors will suffer from the move; pp 1, 4 (1,100 words).

2. Ivan Rodin and Alexei Gorbachev article headlined "'Golden pretzels' in Moscow city duma" says that the State Duma commission for control over deputies' income and property declarations will consider today One Russia MP Andrey Isayev's case. Meanwhile, a list of the Moscow city duma deputies, who supposedly combine deputy work with business activities, has been published; pp 1, 3 (750 words).

3. Tatyana Ivzhenko article headlined "Crimea's national parks may be put up for sale" says that the Ukrainian authorities plan to clean national parks in Crimea from unauthorized construction projects; pp 1, 6 (1,000 words).

4. Alexei Gorbachev and Alexandra Samarina article headlined "One cannot count on amnesty in Russia" says that the opposition Coordination Council plans to suggest that the Russian authorities grant an amnesty to certain prisoners. Experts say that the initiative will not be backed as both the authorities and Russian society are not ready to use the institution of amnesty; pp 1, 3 (900 words).

5. Vladimir Skosyrev article headlined "Erdogan and Ocalan become Siamese twins" says that the Turkish authorities are holding talks with jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan to put an end to the conflict and contribute to the Turkish prime minister's victory in the presidential election; pp 1, 7 (750 words).

6. Yury Paniyev article headlined "Venezuela without Comandante Chavez" looks at Russian-Venezuelan relations and features experts' comments on the future of Venezuela; pp 1, 7 (1,200 words).

7. Editorial headlined "Evolution of counter-revolutionaries" says that the pro-Kremlin youth movement Nashi will be re-organized; p 2 (600 words).

8. Svetlana Gavrilina article headlined "Owner of Svoboda remains at large" says that searches have been held at the flats of three St Petersburg opposition activists, including Andrey Pivovarov, the co-owner of the opposition bar Svoboda, as part of the probe into the 6 May 2012 riots on Moscow's Bolotnaya Square; p 2 (750 words).

9. Ivan Rodin article headlined "Complicated religious feelings" says that the State Duma is to rewrite the bill introducing criminal responsibility for insulting believers' feelings; p 2 (700 words).

10. Article by US Secretary of State John Kerry headlined "For gender equality" looks at women's role in the US international policy; p 3 (500 words).

11. Igor Naumov article headlined "Vladimir Putin's flying school" focuses on Putin's visit to an aircraft building plant in Novosibirsk; p 4 (1,100 words).

12. Mikhail Sergeyev article headlined "Damage from army crimes triples" says that according to the Audit Chamber, the estimate of preparations for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi has been overstated by at least R15bn. Meanwhile, the Main Military Prosecutor's Office has reported that the damage caused to the budget by crimes in the army has reached R11bn over a year; p 4 (650 words).

13. Gleb Postnov article headlined "Tatarstan's mufti resigns" says that Tatarstan's Mufti Ildus Fayzov has resigned over health problems. Kamil Samigullin has replaced him; p 5 (200 words).

14. Dmitry Orlov article headlined "Influence rating of regional heads in February 2013" says that Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin tops the influence rating of heads of Russian regions in February; p 5 (700 words).

15. Nikolai Surkov article headlined "New CIA head given go-ahead" says that the US Senate Intelligence Committee has approved John Brennan as the CIA head; p 7 (650 words).

Vedomosti

1. Maria Drashnikova et al. article headlined "Moscow Region to audit all construction projects" says that the Moscow Region authorities have decided to audit all housing construction contracts and suspend issuing of new construction permissions for the time of the audit; pp 1, 17 (506 words).

2. Irina Kezik article headlined "In exchange for Arctic region" says that Rosneft will acquire 30-per-cent stakes in ExxonMobil's projects in the Gulf of Mexico; pp 1, 13 (519 words).

3. Editorial headlined "Chavez's heritage" focuses on the late Venezuelan leader's services to the country; pp 1, 6 (423 words).

4. Yelizaveta Sergina article headlined "Rostelekom gathers candidates" says that 31 people, including former top managers of the mobile phone operators VimpelCom and Tele2, are aspiring to 11 posts in the board of directors at the communications company Rostelekom; p 16 (529 words).

5. Kirill Titayev and Mariya Shklyaruk article headlined "Extra Jus: Open police" says that the Open Police project (http://openpolice.ru/) has been launched this week under the aegis of the Civil Initiatives Committee. Information about law enforcers and their work will be collected and systematized there; p 6 (748 words).

6. Polina Khimshiashvili and Alexei Nikolsky article headlined "Venezuela without Chavez" says that Venezuela's international policy will inevitably change after the president's death. Relations with Russia are expected to become chilly, although military cooperation between the two countries will not be affected; p 2 (713 words).

7. Editorial headlined "Sanitary world" says that the Federal Service for Consumer Rights Protection (Rospotrebnadzor) has greater influence on Russia's international policy than the Foreign Ministry; p 6 (258 words).

8. Mariya Eysmont article headlined "Civil society: Beginning of feedback" contemplates relations between the Russian authorities and journalists; p 7 (402 words).

9. Yuliya Gribtsova et al. article headlined "36 Georgian wine makers" says that 36 Georgian companies producing wine and four companies producing mineral water have been admitted to Russia; p 18 (576 words).

Izvestia

1. Andrey Gridasov article headlined "Investigators seize Yevgeniya Vasilyeva's all property" says that all the property owned by former head of the Defense Ministry's property relations department Yevgeniya Vasilyeva, charged with fraud, has been seized; pp 1, 4 (654 words).

2. Leysan Suleymanova et al. article headlined "Attack on Filin committed for R50,000" says that Pavel Dmitrichenko has masterminded the acid attack on the Bolshoi Theater's ballet director to take vengeance on Filin for his common wife, the Bolshoi Theater's dancer. The attack cost him R50,000; pp 1, 4 (643 words).

3. Maria Kunle and Mariya Kiseleva article headlined "Rosimushchestvo does nothing in case of Domodedovo's land" says that the federal property agency Rosimushchestvo impedes the Russian Investigations Committee in prosecuting Leonid Kovalevskiy, the head of the Domodedovo city district, who handed over plots of land owned by the Domodedovo airport to a Cypriot company; pp 1, 4 (865 words).

4. German Petelin and Yelizaveta Mayetnaya article headlined "Federal Penal Service opens colonies for private investors" says that the Federal Penal Service has agreed with 20 businessmen that their goods will be manufactured in prisons as a measure to improve the agency's financial situation; pp 1, 4 (807 words).

5. Ivan Cheberko article headlined "Popovkin involves friends into Energiya" says that Federal Space Agency head Vladimir Popovkin wants his first deputy Oleg Frolov to be appointed head of the board of directors at the missile corporation RKK Energiya; pp 1, 4 (456 words).

6. Yuliya Tsoy report "Senate may be left without tycoons" says that resignations will continue at the Federation Council after a bill banning officials from having property abroad has been passed in the first reading; pp 1-2 (600 words).

7. Yuliya Tsoy article headlined "Communists suggest immortalizing Hugo Chavez in Moscow" says that the Communist Party of the Russian Federation has suggested naming several streets in various Russian cities, including Moscow, after the late Venezuelan leader because he was a "friend of Russian people"; p 2 (511 words).

8. Svetlana Subbotina article headlined "They suggest watching economic criminals' purses during five years" says that an One Russia MP has drafted a bill obliging people who have served prison terms for economic crimes to submit income and expenditure declarations during five years; p 2 (551 words).

9. Vladimir Solovyev article headlined "Unjust words" criticizes State Duma deputy Dmitriy Gudkov's speech at a seminar organized by the human rights organization Freedom House, the research centre Foreign Policy Initiative and the New York-based Institute of Modern Russia; p 3 (438 words).

10. Dina Ushakova article headlined "Pension Fund decides that rich people should not pay for pensions of poor people" looks at yet another pension initiative by the Russian Pension Fund; p 5 (960 words).

11. Mariya Kuprenkova article quotes Vladimir Milov, the director of the Energy Policy Institute, as saying that China may oust Russia from the Venezuelan oil production market; p 7 (388 words).

12. Konstantin Volkov article headlined "North Korea to be banned from banking activity" says that the UN Security Council has drafted and approved a new package of sanctions against North Korea; p 7 (511 words).

13. Anna Akhmadiyeva article headlined "Public TV to earn on sponsors' projects" says that the Public TV to be established in Russia will attract sponsors to produce separate projects; p 9 (619 words).

14. Mikhail Delyagin article headlined "From 'energy superpower' to drive to restore infrastructure" contemplates the shale revolution and what impact it will have on Russia; p 10 (587 words).

15. Yelena Rykovtseva article headlined "Psychiatrist for Bolshoi" focuses on the motive of the acid attack on the Bolshoi Theatre's ballet director; p 10 (987 words).

16. Svetlana Naborshchikova et al. article headlined "Bolshoi staff do not believe that Dmitrichenko ordered attack on Filin" says that the Bolshoi Theater staff have cast doubts on the motive of the acid attack on the Bolshoi Theater's ballet director, announced by investigators; p 11 (1,031 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Viktor Feshchenko article headlined "World minus Chavez" looks at prospects for the development of Venezuela after its leader has died; pp 1, 8 (1,052 words).

2. Alexander Yemelyanenkov interview headlined "Involvement of qualifications committee inevitable" with Vladimir Filippov, head of the highest qualifications committee; pp 1, 6 (3,000 words).

3. Kira Latukhina report headlined "Su-34 is first thing" looks at Putin's visit to Novosibirsk; p 2 (779 words).

4. Yuriy Gavrilov article headlined "Six submarines Kilo" says that Russian warships will be allowed to call at Cam Ranh, Vietnam. A corresponding agreement is expected to be signed by the end of the year; p 2 (547 words).

5. Sergey Toporkov article headlined "Media is buzzing, and you are keeping your mouth shut?" says that Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko has accused the judicial community of covering up a Krasnodar Territory judge detained on suspicion of bribe-taking; p 3 (977 words).

6. Anna Zakatnova article headlined "Time to work hard!" says that the liberal, social and patriotic wings of the One Russia party have discussed a bill on a new mechanism to elect State Duma deputies and concluded that it was the ruling party that would suffer from the bill most of all; p 5 (477 words).

7. Natalya Kozlova article headlined "All three men confessed" says that three suspects have confessed to being involved in the acid attack on Sergey Filin, the Bolshoi Theatre's ballet director; p 7 (542 words).

8. Yuriy Gavrilov report "General Staff entitled to inform" looks at chief of the General Staff Valeriy Gerasimov's meeting with foreign military attaches in Moscow; p 5 (600 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Marina Ozerova article headlined "List of banned words for officials published" says that the Labor and Social Development Ministry has made a list of words that Russian officials are banned from using in conversations as an anti-corruption measure; pp 1-2 (600 words).

2. Igor Subbotin and Alexandra Zinovyeva article headlined "Could they kill Chavez" says that the USA may have been behind the Venezuelan leader's death given that he is not the first Latin American politician who suffered from cancer; pp 1, 6 (800 words).

3. Pavel Yashchenkov et al. article headlined "All roles distributed in attack on Filin" says that the acid attack on Sergey Filin, the Bolshoi Theater's artistic director, has been solved, and interviews a man close to the theater, who speaks about the mastermind of the crime; pp 1, 3 (2,400 words).

4. Natalya Rozhkova article headlined "Navalny finds governor's villa in Nice" says that blogger Alexei Navalny has revealed information about Pskov Region governor Andrey Turchak possessing an expensive villa in Nice and features comments by the deputy head of One Russia's general council, Sergey Zheleznyak; p 2 (700 words).

5. Andrey Yashlavskiy article headlined "How lieutenant colonel becomes president" looks at the late Venezuelan leader and contemplates his successor; p 6 (900 words).

6. Mikhail Zubov report "Putin: Reset" publishes political analysts' comments on Putin's policy; pp 1, 4 (1,800 words).

7. Igor Subbotin article headlined "What is in store for Russian-Venezuelan economic partnership?" looks at prospects of economic cooperation between Russia and Venezuela; p 6 (600 words).

RBK Daily

1. Yulia Kalachikhina and Vladimir Pavlov article headlined "Life after Chavez" says that relations between Russia and Venezuela may deteriorate as new people will come to power after Chavez's death; pp 1, 4 (600 words).

2. Anastasiya Novikova article headlined "One Russia makes election" says that the One Russia party has unanimously approved of the bill drafted by President Vladimir Putin, which introduces changes to the Duma election procedure; p 2 (400 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta (weekly)

1. Igor Yelkov interview with Irina Bergset, one of the organizers of the 2 March rally in Moscow in defense of children, headlined "Not children's world", who speaks about the Norwegian policy as regards children given that a Norwegian court has ruled that her son should stay with her husband, a native of Norway; p 4 (1,294 words).

2. Alexander Yemelyanenkov interview, headlined "Candidate's minimum", with Vladimir Filippov, head of the highest qualifications committee of the Education and Science Ministry, who speaks about single state exams and bonuses for academic degrees; p 6 (1,023 words).

3. Mikhail Barshchevskiy interview with Constitutional Court judge Nikolay Bondar, headlined "Master almost not seen", who speaks about the Bologna education system; p 8 (1,179 words).

4. Yekaterina Zabrodina article headlined "Chavez out of game" lists the candidacies of Chavez's possible successors; p 12 (500 words).

Novyye Izvestia

1. Sergey Manukov and Gennadiy Savchenko article headlined "Last hero" looks at the policy carried out by the late Venezuelan leader; p 12 (660 words).

2. Mariya Konstantinova article headlined "Ombudsman Lukin gives present to Pussy Riot" says that Russian ombudsman Vladimir Lukin has appealed to the Moscow city court asking to acquit the members of the Pussy Riot punk band; pp 1, 3 (250 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda

1. Yelena Chinkova article headlined "What Chavez's death means to Russia outlines the prospects of Russian-Venezuelan relations; p 4 (400 words).

2. Andrey Vasin article headlined "Moscow says goodbye to comandante with flowers" features a report on Russians paying tribute to Hugo Chavez; p 4 (400 words).

3. Alexander Yermakov article headlined "One more blonde suspected of stealing lands of Defense Ministry" says that the wife of a deputy head of the regional cadastre office, Svetlana Pyatunina, has been detained in Leningrad Region as she is suspected of machinations with Defence Ministry land; p 6 (350 words).

4. Valeriy Rukobratskiy interview with Trade and Industry Minister Denis Manturov; p 8 (1,100 words).

Krasnaya Zvezda

1. Yelizaveta Orlova article headlined "People cry over Chavez" features some facts from Hugo Chavez's biography; p 3 (400 words).

Mar. 7, 2013/BBC Monitoring/©BBC

Related articles:

• What the Papers Say, Mar. 6, 2012
• What the Papers Say, Mar. 5, 2012
• What the Papers Say, Mar. 4, 2012