What the Papers Say, July 25, 2013

Kommersant

1. Yegor Popov and Ivan Safronov article headlined "Rostec called up to multi-tasking machine operator" says that the Rostec state corporation may monopolize the Russian machine tool construction sector as its subsidiary Stankoprom will receive an exclusive right to deliver Russian and foreign-made equipment to defense enterprises; pp 1, 7 (886 words).

2. Svetlana Dementyeva article headlined "Credit unloading" says that the Bank of Russia is drafting amendments to the law meant to restrict citizens' excessive crediting; pp 1, 7 (648 words).

3. Ivan Buranov article headlined "They allow drivers to breathe out more freely" says that the zero per mille alcohol limit for drivers has been canceled in Russia and heavy fines for drunk driving have been introduced; pp 1, 5 (869 words).

4. Pavel Tarasenko et al. article headlined "Edward Snowden left in transit state" says that U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden has not left the transit zone of Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport because he did not receive a relevant document from the Federal Migration Service due to red tape. The U.S. has demanded that Russia clarify Snowden's status; pp 1, 6 (636 words).

5. St. Petersburg-based Anna Pushkarskaya article headlined "Constitutional Court admits priority of international norms" says that the Constitutional Court has refused to consider the State Duma opposition's request to annul Russia's accession to the WTO, having admitted that this issue is beyond its jurisdiction; p 2 (511 words).

6. Natalya Korchenkova and Dmitry Shcherbakov article headlined "No confidence in government backed with citizens' signatures" says that the Communist Party of the Russian Federation is collecting signatures across Russia in support of the dismissal of the government, being displeased with pending reforms in the Russian Academy of Sciences; p 2 (477 words).

7. Viktor Khamrayev article published in the column headlined "Rules of Game" says that the main surprise of the 2013 election campaign is that the authorities are not putting obstacles in the way of opposition candidates; p 3 (458 words).

8. Taisia Bekbulatova and Sofia Samokhina article headlined "Mayor's office answers candidate Navalny" says that the head of the Moscow government's competition policy department, Gennady Degtev, has criticized opposition activist Alexei Navalny for challenging city tenders as part of his Rospil anti-corruption project; p 3 (607 words).

9. Sergei Goryashko article headlined "Citizens leave, but not throng" says that a public opinion poll by the VTsIOM state public opinion research center has shown that 48 percent of Russians consider emigration acceptable and 46 percent of respondents think that emigration is wrong and unpatriotic. Some 13 percent of those polled want to leave Russia; p 3 (453 words).

10. Article by the newspaper's political section headlined "Different views of competition" says that nomination of candidates for the 8 September regional elections has ended in Russia and looks at nominees in some Russian regions; p 3 (557 words).

11. Sergei Mashkin article headlined "Personal remarks made in Anna Politkovskaya case" says that the hearing of the Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya murder case in the Moscow city court has turned into wrangling between participants in the trial; p 4 (821 words).

12. Oleg Rubnikovich article headlined "Military property estimated in prison terms" says that a witness in the Oboronservis corruption case has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for attempted fraud with Defense Ministry's property; p 4 (388 words).

13. Grigory Tumanov article headlined "Police violence gathered to prosecutor's office" says that human rights activists have asked a prosecutor's office to revise earlier dismissed cases on policemen's violence against journalists and opposition activists during street rallies; p 5 (591 words).

14. Alexander Zheglov article headlined "Russian nationalist does not fit in with convention" says that Serbia will not extradite to Russia nationalist Ilya Goryachev, suspected of setting up an extremist group involved in dozens of murders in Russia; p 5 (611 words).

15. Yelena Chernenko interview with Russian ambassador to Georgia's breakaway republic South Ossetia, Elbrus Kargiyev, headlined "'To stand at crossroads is not best position'", who speaks about problems facing the republic's economic development; p 6 (549 words).

16. Sergei Strokan article headlined "Palestine and Israel invited to USA for talks" says that Palestinian-Israeli peace talks will be resumed with the U.S. acting as an intermediary and features a Russian expert's comment on the issue; p 6 (566 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Vladimir Mukhin article headlined "Army prepares for fight for Kurils" looks at Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's report on the results of the recent snap large-scale drill in the Far East and what changes in the Russian Armed Forces will follow; pp 1-2 (814 words).

2. Ivan Rodin article headlined "Abstinence prescribed to night time establishments" says that in early August, the Federal Drug Control Service will submit to the government amendments meant to step up the fight against drug distributors and abusers; pp 1, 3 (740 words).

3. Alexandra Samarina article headlined "Governors closely watched by Federal Protection Service" says that the government plans to entrust the Federal Protection Service with a task to learn citizens' assessment of ethnic and religious relations in regions to assess the effectiveness of regional heads. Experts say the federal authorities want to strengthen power-wielding agencies' control over governors; pp 1, 3 (1,061 words).

4. Darya Tsilyurik article headlined "Edward Snowden likes to live as tramp in Russia" says that according to lawyer Anatoly Kucherena, U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden plans to live in Russia. Washington, nevertheless, expects Moscow to extradite him to the U.S.; pp 1, 7 (841 words).

5. Yevgenia Novikova article headlined "Moscow strengthens its positions in Middle East" says that the U.S. has stepped up activity to reconcile Palestine and Israel, whereas Russia has become concerned about the Iranian nuclear problem. Good progress in these issues will reinstate the two countries' leading positions in the Middle East; pp 1, 7 (1,021 words).

6. Tatyana Ivzhenko report "Ukraine turns out to be CIS economic outsider" looks at the economic situation in Ukraine; pp 1, 6 (700 words).

7. Editorial headlined "State support produces dependants" criticizes the Russian authorities' steps being taken to improve the Russian economic situation; p 2 (526 words).

8. Viktor Litovkin article published in the regular column "Carte blanche" headlined "Put out one's own eyes" looks at paradoxes in Russian-Ukrainian military and technical cooperation; p 3 (909 words).

9. Sergei Kulikov article headlined "Investors see Gazprom at bottom" says that in the 2013 rating Financial Times Global 500, the Russian gas giant Gazprom has been ranked 57, having lost 26 positions, thus quitting the top 50 of the world's largest companies; p 4 (742 words).

10. Sergei Turanov article headlined "Fifty most influential businessmen and investors" says that Gazprom head Alexei Miller has topped the political influence rating of Russian businessmen and investors, followed by Russian Railways company head Vladimir Yakunin and Rosneft head Igor Sechin; p 5 (1,090 words).

11. Vladimir Skosyrev article headlined "USA draws India into anti-Chinese alliance" describes U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's visit to India and features a Russian expert's comment on the issue; p 7 (491 words).

12. Brief unattributed report "Politkovskaya case" looks at the trial of slain journalist Anna Politkovskaya that has begun in Moscow and says that the journalist's children have refused to take part in it; p 3 (200 words).

Vedomosti

1. Olga Kuvshinova et al. article headlined "Quantitative easing in Russian way" looks at a set of measures developed by the Economic Development Ministry to speed up Russia's economic growth; pp 1, 4 (690 words).

2. Editorial headlined "Players without inverted commas" comments on a law introducing criminal punishment for fixed games signed by President Vladimir Putin; pp 1, 6 (392 words).

3. Anastasia Golitsyna article headlined "Rambler defends privacy of correspondence" says that a Moscow court has found illegal a decision by the Federal Service for Financial Markets to fine the Rambler Internet Holding company for its refusal to give the agency information about its mailbox users' online correspondence; p 16 (621 words).

4. Lilia Biryukova article headlined "Favorites not to show faces" says that governor candidates from the ruling United Russia party will not use the portraits of Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev as well as their own images in outdoor canvassing; p 3 (616 words).

5. Ella Paneyakh article headlined "Extra Jus: Court stops making believe" contemplates justice in Russia and says that the case of opposition activist Alexei Navalny is yet another evidence of the gradual degradation of the Russian judicial system; p 6 (755 words).

6. Editorial headlined "Permit of business" welcomes the Russian authorities' recent initiatives to back small and medium-sized businesses; p 6 (378 words).

7. Anastasia Kornya et al. report "Small forces respected" says that the Central Electoral Commission has cancelled the decision of Khakassia's electoral commission that refused to register the opposition RPR-Parnas party's list of candidates standing in the local election; p 2 (850 words).

Izvestia

1. Dmitry Yevstifeyev article headlined "Episode worth 900M Rubles found for Serdyukov and his classmate" says that former Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov has been questioned in line with a new criminal case on fraud with military property and plots of land in Moscow Region. The buyer of the assets, businessman Anton Myasnikov, was also questioned; pp 1, 4 (900 words).

2. Vladimir Zykov interview headlined "'Mass blocking of websites ruled out'" with the head of the Roskomnadzor media watchdog Alexander Zharov, speaking about anti-piracy law to come into effect as from 1 August; pp 1, 8 (1,200 words).

3. Maria Kunle article headlined "Supreme Arbitration Court launches 'journal' to register instances when pressure exerted on judges" looks at how the Supreme Arbitration Court plans to fight against people who want to exert pressure on or bribe judges; pp 1, 4 (1,100 words).

4. Yelena Malay article headlined "Deputies suggest making list of 'loyal companies'" says that a group of State Duma deputies has drafted a bill on the status of national business in Russia, under which a list of companies loyal to the state that should be given privileges will be made; pp 1, 4 (600 words).

5. Ivan Cheberko report "Russia resumes launches of Satana missiles" says that the Russian-Ukrainian company Kosmotras has announced the "beginning of the launch campaign". Two missiles will be launched this year and five in 2014; p 3 (650 words).

6. Anna Akhmadiyeva report "Government will not add money to Public TV" says that the budget of Russia's Public television will not be increased this year and in 2014-15 despite the channel's request for additional 700 million rubles; p 3 (400 words).

7. Viktor Loginov report "Moscow city electoral commission to check if Navalny has bank deposits in USA" says that a notorious hacker has published documents saying that opposition activist Alexei Navalny and his wife allegedly have bank accounts in an American bank; p 5 (600 words).

8. Natalya Demchenko report "Snowden as instrument of 'soft power'" looks at the situation with former CIA employee Edward Snowden; p 9 (800 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Ilya Sobolev article headlined "Without fanaticism" comments on the law introducing criminal punishment for fixed games; pp 1, 11 (609 words).

2. Natalya Kozlova article headlined "Serdyukov keeps silence again" says that former Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov has been questioned as a witness in a criminal case on military property fraud in St. Petersburg. Serdyukov kept silent as usual; pp 1, 6 (619 words).

3. Vitaly Petrov report "New stage for Caucasus" looks at Putin's meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and the president's plenipotentiary representative in the North Caucasus Alexander Khloponin; p 2 (900 words).

4. Yevgeny Solovyev article headlined "China cancels visas for Russians" says that as from 1 August, Guangzhou will become the third Chinese town after Beijing and Shanghai that transit Russian passengers can visit for 72 hours without visas; p 7 (425 words).

5. Alexander Gasyuk report "CIA tames weather" looks at the CIA developing offensive climatic weapons and features Russian experts' comment; p 7 (850 words).

6. Timofei Borisov brief report "Without status" says that Edward Snowden has not yet received an answer to his request from the Russian Federal Migration Service and has not left the transit zone of Sheremetyevo Airport; p 7 (250 words).

7. The newspaper publishes the law introducing heavy fines for drunk driving; p 15 (3,245 words).

8. The newspaper publishes the law introducing criminal punishment for fixed games; p 15 (3,489 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta (weekly)

1. Vasily Zhiltsov article headlined "Father and mother of city" focuses on the KirovLes timber company criminal case involving opposition activist Alexei Navalny and features pieces of records of telephone calls between convicts; pp 4-5 (2,359 words).

2. Mikhail Barshchevsky interview with State Duma chairman Sergei Naryshkin, headlined "Orthography", who speaks about the planned study of the laws passed in the last 20 years; pp 8-9 (1,494 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Alexander Melman article headlined "Anti-public TV" comments on the Public television in Russia and says that its financial problems are explained by the fact that both the state and Russians do not need it; p 1 (558 words).

2. Alexander Minkin article headlined "Political syphilis" looks at the foreign policy aspect of the opposition activist Alexei Navalny case; pp 1-2 (1,239 words).

3. Natalya Rozhkova article headlined "Old Golos in new way" says that the leadership of the election monitoring NGO Golos has established a new organization, the public association In Defense of Voters' Rights Golos, which is similar to the All-Russia People's Front in structure and principle of operation; p 2 (545 words).

4. Ignat Kalinin article headlined "Serdyukov's pawns make themselves at home at prisons" regrets that former Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov is still out-of-reach for justice as those people who have already been convicted of the Defense Ministry's property fraud are only minor executors; p 3 (497 words).

5. Matvey Ganapolsky article headlined "Royal baby against background of tsarist family" says that the killing of Tsar Nicholas II's family by Bolsheviks has left negative traces on Russia and its development and compares the situation to that in the U.K., where the royal family is respected and worshipped; p 3 (1,329 words).

6. Zurab Nalbandyan article headlined "House of nameless prince" says that judging by the behavior of Prince William and Kate when they left a maternity hospital, they want to be an ordinary family; p 3 (610 words).

7. Igor Subbotin report "Snowden leaves zone" looks at the situation with fugitive American Edward Snowden; p 3 (250 words).

8. Maxim Grigoryev report "Jury run away from Politkovskaya case" looks at the trial of slain journalist Anna Politkovskaya; p 3 (350 words).

Noviye Izvestia

1. Anna Myasnikova and Vyacheslav Shiryayev article headlined "What prevents MAKS from flying higher" says that the 2013 MAKS airshow will be held in the town of Zhukovskyin Moscow Region on 27 August — 1 September. The organizer of the airshow has been audited, but the results of the audit have not been made public; pp 1, 5 (933 words).

2. Gennady Petrov brief interview with political analyst Fyodor Lukyanov, headlined "'No-one knows what to do with Snowden'", speaking about the future of U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden; p 1 (605 words).

3. Vera Moslakova article headlined "False confrontation" says that the newly-established Opposition Expert Council is planning to hold a rally in support of political prisoners on 4 August; p 2 (579 words).

4. Vladimir Filippov article headlined "Behaviour not good for early release" says that a court in Perm Territory has rejected a request for parole filed by the convicted Pussy Riot punk band member Maria Alyokhina; p 5 (540 words).

5. Anna Alexeyeva article headlined "Goes around" says the family of the murdered Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya has refused to attend a court hearing against the alleged murder contractors as it disagrees with a jury selection procedure; pp 1, 5 (600 words).

6. Anna Kumitskaya article headlined "Will Strasbourg hear Golos?" says the Russian election watchdog Golos has appealed to the European Court of Human Rights against application of NGO laws in Russia; p 2 (100 words).

RBC Daily

1. Stepan Opalev article headlined "Game of programmes" analyzes the rhetoric used by candidates for Moscow mayor; pp 1-2 (500 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda

1. Alexander Grishin article headlined "Who will account for chat?" slams Leonid Volkov, the head of the campaign headquarters of opposition candidate for Moscow mayor Alexei Navalny; p 8 (500 words).

2. Alexei Mukhin article headlined "Sobyanin, Navalny, Melnikov and Muscovites" analyses the election campaign for Moscow mayor; p 8 (500 words).

Zavtra

1. Report by newspaper editor in chief Alexander Prokhanov headlined "Alexei Navalny as organization weapon" focuses on popularity of opposition activist Alexei Navalny; p 1 (1,200 words).

Krasnaya Zvezda

1. Lyudmila Gundarova article headlined "Militants use human shields" comments on the situation in Syria and says that rebels in the northeast of Syria have used civilians as human shields; p 3 (400 words).