What the Papers Say, Sept. 27, 2013

Kommersant

1. Denis Skorobogatko et al. article headlined "Liquidation to be held on accounts" says that the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry wants to oblige developers to put up to six percent of the amount allocated to develop new fields to special bank accounts for the posterior liquidation of fields and re-cultivation of areas; pp 1, 11 (848 words).

2. Vladislav Noviy article headlined "Mail puts end to food business" says that Russian Post is planning to give up food sales and focus on trading in stationery and printed output in big cities; pp 1, 13 (539 words).

3. Taisia Bekbulatova article headlined "Something to come out of amnesty" says that President Vladimir Putin has instructed the president's human rights council to make proposals on granting amnesty to certain people on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Russian constitution by Oct. 15 ; pp 1, 3 (747 words).

4. Musa Muradov and Oleg Rubnikovich article headlined "Off-schedule check turns into unplanned arrest" says that a department head at the Audit Chamber has been arrested on suspicion of bribery; pp 1, 4 (568 words).

5. Andrei Kolesnikov article headlined "Vladimir Putin lands to meet airborne troops" says that the Russian-Belarussian joint drill Zapad 2013 has ended in Kaliningrad. President Putin and his Belarussian counterpart watched the final stage of the exercise; p 2 (948 words).

6. Ivan Safronov article headlined "Space reform outlined by instructions" says that the government has drafted a ruling describing the Russian ministries' steps to implement President Putin's initiative to establish a joint stock company called United Rocket and Space Corporation; p 2 (789 words).

7. Alexandra Larintseva and Musa Muradov article headlined "Dismissal prepared for Stavropol regional governor" says that Stavropol governor Valery Zerenkov is expected to be dismissed. First deputy governor of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, Vladimir Vladimirov, will execute Zerenkov's duty; p 2 (503 words).

8. Article by the newspaper's political section headlined "Everyone likes 'against all'" says that senators and regional lawmakers, including United Russia members, have backed Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko's initiative to restore the "against all" box in ballot papers; p 3 (710 words).

9. Maxim Ivanov article headlined "In search of lost society" says that former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin's Committee of Civil Initiatives has held a meeting to discuss the state of civil society and non-governmental organizations in Russia; p 3 (584 words).

10. Unattributed "Direct speech" section headlined "Who should be released?" features comments by politicians and experts on categories of people who should be granted amnesty; p 3 (432 words).

11. Vladislav Trifonov article headlined "Vladislav Baumgertner exchanges one room for three" says that director-general of the Russian potash producer Uralkali, Vladislav Baumgertner, has been released from a remand center in Belarus and transported to a three-room flat in Minsk's outskirts; p 4 (770 words).

12. Andrei Smirnov article headlined "Preparation for terror attack at World Student Games results in suicide blast" says a member of a group that was planning a terror attack in Kazan during the preparations for the World Student Games in 2012, was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in prison; other members of this group were earlier killed by an explosive device that went off in their car; p 4 (400 words).

13. Grigory Tumanov et al. article headlined "Responsibility limit being chosen for Arctic Sunrise team" says that a Murmansk court has issued an arrest warrant for Greenpeace activists who tried to board an oil rig in the Pechora Sea. The future of the detainees will depend on how Russian investigators will treat the rules of the Russian and international law; p 5 (959 words).

14. Alexander Chernykh article headlined "Academicians to become senators" says that academicians have presented a concept of work of scientific institutes, which will be placed under the authority of a governmental property commission. Also, academicians suggested creating a senate of scientists, who will have a right of veto on the commission's decisions; p 5 (583 words).

15. Yelena Chernenko and Yevgeny Khvostik article headlined "Syrian resolution yields to control" says that the UN Security Council will probably pass a resolution on Syria's chemical disarmament today. Russia and the West seem to have come to terms on the wording of the future resolution, the article says; p 7 (905 words).

16. Yegor Popov article headlined "Officials to be put on aircraft and ships" says that two new posts of deputy industry and trade ministers for shipbuilding and aircraft-building will appear in Russia; p 9 (518 words).

17. Olga Mordyushenko and Oleg Sapozhkov article headlined "Uralkali mixed with politics" says that the settlement of the Uralkali conflict may take longer than planned; p 9 (619 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Vladimir Mukhin article headlined "Energy security guaranteed for Europe" says that Russia and Belarus have held the joint exercise Zapad 2013. The Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization's rapid-reaction forces held the drill near the borders of Poland and Lithuania. ; pp 1-2 (759 words).

2. Alexei Gorbachev article headlined "Path to politics to be blocked for those caught in extremism" says that amendments are being drafted to the law on anti-extremist activity, under which heads of organizations banned by the court cannot establish political parties; pp 1, 3 (529 words).

3. Ivan Rodin article headlined "Electoral toughening" says that the presidential administration may toughen the bill on State Duma elections before its second reading; p 1, 3 (914 words).

4. Alexandra Samarina article headlined "Kremlin's gates slightly open for opposition" says that a co-chairman of the RPR Parnas party, Vladimir Ryzhkov, may head a fund financed by the Kremlin; p 1, 3 (944 words).

5. Tatyana Ivzhenko article headlined "Minsk and Kiev create situation coalition" says that Belarus has backed Ukraine's plans to integrate with the EU by saying that a free-trade agreement, to be signed with the EU, will not affect Kiev's trade and economic relations with the Customs Union member-states; pp 1, 7 (954 words).

6. Yevgenia Novikova article headlined "Tehran tries to break free of sanctions" says that judging by statements made by the Iranian president at the 68th session of the UN General Assembly, Tehran is tired of tough international sanctions and is ready for a compromise on its nuclear program. The article features a Russian expert's comment on the issue; pp 1, 8 (709 words).

7. Ivan Rodin article headlined "Elective toughening" says preparations for the second reading of the bill on State Duma elections may take one month longer because of the position of the presidential administration; pp 1, 3 (800 words).

8. Anastasia Bashkatova article headlined "Russian model of innovations collapses" compares Russian and Chinese approaches to innovation development; p 2 (1,063 words).

9. Editorial headlined "Russia without mercy" comments on a possibility of granting amnesty to the defendants in the so-called Bolotnaya case over the May 6 riots in 2012 on Bolotnaya Square and says that society sees the ruling authorities' mercy as a display of their weakness; p 2 (483 words).

10. Eduard Lozansky article published in the Carte Blanche regular column headlined "To begin with chemical weapons arsenals" says that Russia and the U.S. should give up mutual claims and find a way out of the Syrian deadlock; p 3 (613 words).

11. Vladimir Ivanov article headlined "Shvabe holding company enters global market with confidence" reports on the 2013 Russia Arms Expo, an exhibition of Russian arms and hardware, which is under way in Nizhniy Tagil; p 6 (1,185 words).

12. Alexander Konkov article headlined "Filter from turbid water" stands up for the so-called municipal filter, a requirement for candidates to collect a certain amount of signatures from regional and municipal deputies; p 6 (1,096 words).

13. Anton Khodasevich article headlined "Lukashenko and Putin 'fight with terrorists'" says that the release of the general-director of the Russian potash producer Uralkali from a remand centre in Belarus is linked to the Putin-Lukashenko meeting at a joint military drill in Kaliningrad; p 7 (642 words).

Vedomosti

1. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev article headlined "Strategy: Time for simple decisions" describes the economic situation in Russia, lists anti-crisis measures taken by the government and outlines the government's plans to stimulate economic growth; pp 1, 6 (3,319 words).

2. Margarita Lyutova article headlined "One cannot search in court" says that Russian courts blocked the IP-addresses of users who try to access their materials; pp 1, 4 (422 words).

3. Alexei Nikolsky and Liliya Biryukova article headlined "Pirate with camera" says that Russian investigators want all 30 Greenpeace activists who tried to board an oil rig in the Pechora Sea to be arrested. An arrest warrant has already been issued for 10 people, including a Russian photographer who covered the incident as a journalist hired by Greenpeace International; p 3 (419 words).

4. Editorial headlined "Camera as evidence" comments on the arrest of a Russian photographer who covered the incident involving Greenpeace activists in the Pechora Sea and describes the move as a precedent in the history of Russian journalism; p 6 (484 words).

5. Maxim Trudolyubov article headlined "Republic: freedom of hands" comments on the current political system in Russia; p 7 (395 words).

6. Lilia Biryukova article headlined "Just chairman" says that the leader of the A Just Russia party, Nikolay Levichev, may retain his post despite the party's failure at the Sept. 8 Moscow mayoral election. The party leader will be determined at the party congress on Oct. 26 ; p 2 (538 words).

7. Polina Khimshiashvili article headlined "Saakashvili's final chord" says that the Georgian president's anti-Russian speech at the 68th session of the UN General Assembly forced Russian delegates to quit the hall. However, anti-Russian rhetoric is in low demand in Georgia; p 3 (455 words).

Izvestia

1. Natalya Bashlykova article headlined "Stavropol governor asks for dismissal" says that Stavropol region governor Valery Zerenkov will be dismissed ahead of time on his own request due to health problems; pp 1-2 (717 words).

2. Sergei Podosenov article headlined "They suggest not accepting unemployed migrants' children to school and kindergartens" says that United Russia lawmaker Alexei Zhuravlev has suggested that children of migrants who do not have legal earnings in Russia should not be accepted to schools and kindergartens, thus seats will be vacated for Russian children; pp 1, 3 (701 words).

3. Vladislav Vdovin article headlined "Occupying Stalingrad" says that the Volgograd region branch of the Communist Party has been staging rallies in protest of the claimed Sept. 8 vote rigging for the benefit of the ruling United Russia party for the third week running; pp 1, 4 (2,514 words).

4. Yegor Sozayev-Guryev article headlined "Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko check union forces' combat readiness" says that the Russian and Belarussian presidents have watched the final stage of a joint military drill in Kaliningrad; p 2 (452 words).

5. Svetlana Subbotina et al. article headlined "United Russia develops ballot suitcases" says that the ruling United Russia party has developed unique mobile voting equipment (special suitcases and terminals), to be presented at the party congress in early October; p 2 (501 words).

6. Dmitry Runkevich article headlined "Arctic Sunrise ship may become Russia's property" says that the ship of Greenpeace activists who tried to board an oil rig in the Pechora Sea may be seized as it violated Russia's water boundaries; p 5 (628 words).

7. Andrei Gridasov article headlined "Measure of restraint changed for Uralkali director general" says that Uralkali director general Baumgertner has been placed under home arrest at a secret address and released from the remand centre; p 6 (418 words).

8. Darya Tsoy article headlined "NATO's withdrawal from Afghanistan to strengthen Islamists in CIS" says that the withdrawal of the international coalition forces from Afghanistan in 2014 will aggravate the struggle for power, which may evolve into a civil war. This may result in militants penetrating into the CIS member-states and Russia; p 7 (514 words).

9. Mikhail Vignansky article headlined "Georgia displeased with tone of president's statement in UN" says that the Georgian government has been outraged by the Georgian president's anti-Russian rhetoric at the 68th session of the UN General Assembly as this may worsen delicate relations between the two countries; p 7 (590 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Maxim Novikov article headlined "Does default threaten America?" says that the U.S. Treasury Secretary has forecast that the U.S. will reach the debt ceiling on Oct. 17. The article features Russian experts' comments on the issue; pp 1, 5 (908 words).

2. Vladimir Kuzmin article headlined "Premier and tank" reports on Prime Minister Medvedev's visit to the 2013 Russia Arms Expo, which is under way in Nizhniy Tagil; p 3 (464 words).

3. Valery Vyzhutovich article headlined "Session of mass hypnosis" says that sociological forecasts have lost popularity after the Sept. 8 elections as few of them were correct; p 3 (697 words).

4. Yury Gavrilov article headlined "Lost at cards" reports about a corruption scandal at the General Staff of the Armed Forces; p 7 (341 words).

5. Yevgeny Shestakov article headlined "Seven to be kept in mind" quotes Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov as saying that a UN Security Council resolution on Syria's chemical disarmament may be passed by the end of this week; p 8 (611 words).

6. Vladislav Vorobyev article headlined "Saakashvili makes row in UN" ridicules the Georgian president's anti-Russian performance at the 68th session of the UN General Assembly; p 8 (418 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Yeva Merkacheva article headlined "Zone of free entrepreneurship" says that Russian prisoners have almost become a free labor force for businessmen and prison administrations and features comments from human rights activists on the issue; pp 1, 3 (942 words).

2. Natalya Rozhkova article headlined "Votes do not smell" says the Russian electoral system is unpredictable given the recent initiative to restore the "against all" box in ballot papers; pp 1-2 (534 words).

3. Lev Ponomarev article headlined "Bolotnaya case put on president's table" looks at two options of a bill on granting amnesty to the defendants in the so-called Bolotnaya case on the May 6, 2012, riots on Moscow's Bolotnaya Square and what consequences each of them will have; pp 1-2 (835 words).

4. Marina Ozerova article headlined "Dedicated to 20th anniversary of constitution" says that under the Russian constitution, it is the State Duma, not the president, who has an exclusive right to grant amnesty; p 2 (312 words).

5. Natalya Rozhkova interview with archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, the head of the synodal department for relations between the church and society, headlined "'God has already told them everything through the Church'",peaks about the developments in the convicted Pussy Riot punk band members' case; p 3 (981 words).

6. Stanislav Belkovsky article headlined "Premium Putin" contemplates prospects for President Putin to be awarded the Nobel Peace Price for suggesting Syria's chemical disarmament as a way out of the Syrian deadlock; p 3 (1,222 words).

7. Renat Abdullin article headlined "What did Saakashvili say?" looks at the Georgian president's speech at the 68th session of the UN General Assembly, which forced Russian delegates to quit the hall; p 6 (492 words).

8. Ignat Kalinin article headlined "Trashy new tank product hidden from public" says that the 2013 Russia Arms Expo has not lived up to expectations so far; p 15 (498 words).

Trud

1. Sergei Rusev article headlined "Who goes to congress?" looks ahead at the ruling United Russia party congress scheduled for Oct. 3 to Oct. 5 and says that President Putin is not planning to attend the meeting; p 2 (515 words).

2. Sergei Frolov article headlined "Do not hurry to bury us!" looks at the Russian-Ukrainian relations in the context of Kiev's European integration line; p 2 (876 words).

Novaya Gazeta

1. Mikhail Sokolov article headlined "Politics of first water" gives a political angle on an incident involving Greenpeace activists in the Pechora Sea; p 4 (831 words).

2. Yevgeny Titov article headlined "Sukhumi tries to command Moscow" details the murder of a Russian diplomat in Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia and says that this has been a warning to Russia not to seize the region's construction and real estate markets; pp 5-6 (1,419 words).

3. Yulia Latynina article headlined "Mini-empire of evil" focuses on the Georgian president's anti-Russian speech at the 68th session of the UN General Assembly and says that some of its points were correct; p 6 (746 words).

4. Andrei Kolesnikov article headlined "Authorities head protest movement" says that the proposed restoration of the "against all" box in ballot papers is an attempt by the Russian authorities to take control over the protest electorate. But the authorities will not manage to destroy the protest movement in Russia, the author says; p 7 (575 words).

RBK Daily

1. Alexander Litoy article headlined "Foreign agents receive no attention" says Russian human rights activist are disappointed that President Vladimir Putin has not amended a controversial law on NGOs; p 2 (700 words).

2. Inga Vorobyeva and Ivan Petrov article headlined "Western fight" says Putin and Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko have observed the final stage of the joint Zapad 2013 military exercise; p 2 (400 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda

1. Viktor Baranets article headlined "Serdyukov's relatives manage to buy 92 real estate objects" lists the real estate owned by relatives of the former defence minister, Anatoly Serdyukov. An expert has estimated its price at 5 billion rubles ($155 million); pp 1, 8-9 (2,000 words).

2. Dmitry Steshin article headlined "Wahhabis march among creative class representatives?" says cooperation between Russian Wahhabis and internet-using protest activists is possible in the future; p 6 (700 words).

Krasnaya Zvezda

1. Viktor Khudoleyev and Olga Gorupay article headlined "When united, we are invincible" covers the joint Russian-Belarussian military exercise Zapad-2013; pp 1, 12-13 (1,200 words).