What the Papers Say, Dec. 6, 2013

Kommersant

1.Andrei Kolesnikov article headlined "Front's venue cannot be changed" gives an ironic account of President Vladimir Putin's meeting with participants in the All-Russia People's Front's conference; pp 1-2 (2,156 words).

2. Yury Barsukov and Oleg Gavrish article headlined "Stream of dubious legitimacy" says that following Ukraine's refusal to sign an association agreement with the EU, the European Commission has begun an open fight against the construction of the South Stream pipeline; pp 1, 11 (775 words).

3. Alexei Dospekhov and Afsati Dzgusoyti article headlined "Football dime" says that the Russian Football Union has drafted new rules regarding the activities of players' agents, drastically limiting their financial reward; pp 1, 15 (734 words).

4. Sofya Samokhina et al. report headlined "Who is to be released" looks at the draft presidential amnesty bill that may affect over 30,000 people including eight defendants in the Bolotnaya Square riot case; pp 1-2 (1,271 words).

5. Natalya Gorodetskaya article headlined "Deputies, officials need another ministry" says that a center to monitor ethnic relations will be set up under the president. The State Duma, however, thinks it necessary to establish a ministry of national policy; p 3 (520 words).

6. Maxim Ivanov and Viktor Khamrayev article headlined "Citizens do not rule out anything new" says that a Levada Center poll has shown that some 41 percent of respondents would vote for Putin if the presidential election took place on Dec. 8. Meanwhile, the number of people who would not like to see Putin as president after 2018 has grown from 40 to 45 percent; p 3 (422 words).

7. Yelena Kiseleva article headlined "Arkady Gaydamak behind bars not long and with comfort" says that Israeli businessman of Russian origin Arkady Gaydamak has been released in Geneva after prosecutors failed to substantiate charges; p 4 (784 words).

8. Alexander Igorev article headlined "Olga Yegorova turns on lightbulb" says that chairperson of the Moscow City Court Olga Yegorova has suggested that judges bear financial responsibility for intentional errors; p 4 (414 words).

9. Alexei Shapovalov article headlined 'Tax on air versus limits for heat" says that Business Russia and the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs are split on the plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; p 6 (596 words).

10. Yelena Chernenko article headlined "Europeans find foreign affairs on Maidan" looks at the OSCE ministerial meeting in Kiev and says that some European ministers have used the opportunity to interfere in Ukraine's domestic policy; p 7 (674 words).

11. Sergei Strokan article headlined "They frighten Hamed Karzai with loss of security" says that Barack Obama's administration has called on the Afghan authorities to sign a security deal as soon as possible warning that procrastination is fraught with damage to the confidence in Afghan forces; p 7 (403 words).

12. Maxim Yusin article headlined "Western allies accept shari'ah" says that U.S. and British representatives have for the first time held talks with members of Syrian Islamist groups fighting against Bashar Assad; p 7 (408 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Alexandra Samarina article headlined "Kremlin balances Bastrykin" says that head of the Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin has announced that the committee's reform has been postponed until 2017; a lack of funds is an official reason for the delay; pp 1-2 (700 words).

2. Ivan Rodin article headlined "State Duma gets into deputies' wallets" says that State Duma deputy speaker Sergei Zheleznyak has tabled a bill aiming to increase salaries for regional deputies; pp 1-2 (850 words).

3. Darya Tsiryulik article headlined "Barack Obama stripped of iPhone, but not of iPad or BlackBerry" says that U.S. President Barack Obama has confessed that he is not allowed to use iPad out of security concerns. Meanwhile, as The Guardian's editor in chief has stated that they published only 1 percent of the information that former CIA contractor Edward Snowden has handed over. British intelligence agencies have got down to tracking the whistleblower in Russia, article says; pp 1, 8 (800 words).

4. Petr Tverdov article headlined "Energetic conversation in format of party and economic activists' meeting" says that Putin's meeting with representatives of the All-Russia People's Front has once again proved that the president is the only person capable of solving citizens' petty problems with playgrounds and puppet theaters; pp 1, 3 (800 words).

5. Tatyana Ivzhenko article headlined "Both authorities and Maidan unwilling to give in" says that three former Ukrainian presidents have warned Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych against using force and called on the authorities and the opposition to begin a dialogue; pp 1, 7 (950 words).

6. Igor Naumov article headlined "They entice labor migrants to sky with big money" says that having acknowledged a shortage of pilots, the authorities have permitted airlines to hire foreign pilots; pp 1, 4 (800 words).

7. Editorial headlined "Sad story about disappearance of one politician" says that the Putin-Medvedev tandem is becoming history as Medvedev's presidential rating has dropped down to 1 percent. The system does not have a place for the liberal-minded politician anymore; p 2 (500 words).

8. Tatyana Dvoynova article headlined "Vladivostok keeps contaminating itself" says that waste treatment facilities built for the APEC summit have not been working its full capacity, which has made the Golden Horn Bay the most polluted bay in Russia; p 2 (600 words).

9. Anna Gushchina article headlined "Carte blanche. Europe goes right-wing" says that radical right-wing parties are rapidly gaining more followers in Europe. Sociologists warn that more and more politicians will push for disintegration and the toughening of immigration policy in Europe; p 3 (550 words).

10. Alexei Gorbachev article headlined "Opposition to put up strongest candidates for Moscow City Duma election" looks at opposition candidates likely to participate in the 2014 election to the Moscow City Duma; p 3 (1,000 words).

11. Anton Denisov article headlined "Putin puts People's Front to oversee May decrees" says that at the All-Russia People's Front conference on Dec. 5, Putin demanded that the front should take control of the implementation of the president's May decrees; p 3 (300 words).

12. Anastasia Bashkatova article headlined "Smooth devaluation forecast for Russian currency" says that trustworthy economists expect the ruble to lose another 10 percent in value in 2014, which will result in the exchange rate of 37 rubles per dollar; p 4 (900 words).

13. Sergei Kulikov article headlined "Brussels impedes South Stream" says that it may take Gazprom years to obtain approvals for the Russian gas pipeline South Stream to operate in Europe; p 4 (800 words).

14. Stepan Sulakshin article headlined "Russian constitution must be altered drastically" advocates the need for drastic changes in the constitution; p 5 (1,400 words).

15. Article by the State Duma speaker Sergei Naryshkin headlined "Report or future vector of development?" looks at a report on the condition of the Russian legislature being drafted at the initiative of the Union of Russian Lawmakers; p 5 (1,600 words).

16. Viktoria Panfilova article headlined "Azerbaijan blocking Turkmen transit" says that Baku has not given its consent for the transit of Turkmen gas to Europe via its territory, which may disrupt the operation of the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline; p 7 (1,200 words).

17. Vladimir Skosyrev article headlined "Ruling party loses control over India" says that the opposition may win the 2014 parliamentary election in India and features a Russian expert's comment; p 8 (650 words).

18. Yevgenia Novikova article headlined "Militants prevent removal of sarin from Syria" looks at complications impeding the elimination of Syrian chemical weapons; p 8 (1,000 words).

19. Anna Gushchina article headlined "Turkey agrees to accept illegal refugees from EU" looks at the agreement to regulate migration reached between Turkey and the EU and features a Russian expert's comment on the issue; p 8 (400 words).

Vedomosti

1. Mikhail Overchenko and Polina Khimshiashvili article headlined "They make hay on children" says that U.S. prosecutors have accused almost 50 Russian diplomats and their spouses of illegally getting payments under the Medicaid state program; pp 1-2 (479 words).

2. Mikhail Serov and Yelena Khodyakova article headlined "Gazprom being pushed away from pipeline" says that the EU has demanded that Gazprom should revise the principles of management of the South Stream gas pipeline, which is being built. This may deprive Gazprom of an opportunity to stop transporting gas via Ukraine; pp 1, 14 (580 words).

3. Editorial headlined "Casus of Royzman" comments on Yekaterinburg mayor Yevgeny Roizman's proposal to make Yekaterinburg a city with a federal status like Moscow and St. Petersburg; pp 1, 6 (600 words).

4. Anastasia Kornya article headlined "FSB to sanction rallies" says that it is the Federal Security Service that will make decisions regarding whether rallies in Sochi during the Winter Olympics should be permitted or not; p 3 (530 words).

5. Editorial headlined "Kingdom of rusty water" looks at the president's meeting with the All-Russia People's Front and says that Putin completely ignores economic stagnation in the country when demanding that his ambitious inauguration decrees be implemented; p 6 (353 words).

6. Yekaterina Shulman article headlined "Supremacy of law: Anatomy of amnesty" says that the president has announced he will personally table with the State Duma a draft amnesty bill based on the concept drafted by the presidential human rights council and adds that the amnesty will not solve any legal problems in Russia; p 6 (770 words).

7. Lilia Biryukova report "Mayors canceled" says that a new local government reform may be launched in Russia. The authorities of big cities and municipal districts will lose independence and power; p 2 (650 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Tatyana Zamakhina article headlined "Decrees for front" gives account of President Putin's meeting with the participants of the All-Russia People's Front's conference; p 2 (1,400 words).

2. Natalya Kozlova article headlined "Forgiveness, but not for everyone" looks at the prospects of amnesty in Russia; p 2 (300 words).

3. Valery Vyzhutovych article headlined "Integrity for sake of survival" says that mass media outlets tend to focus on news in Moscow ,which psychologically prepares people for decentralization; p 3 (800 words).

4. Yulia Krivoshapko article headlined "BRICS: Do not hurry to bury us" looks at an international conference to discuss the prospects of the BRICS countries organized by the Economic Development Ministry; p 3 (450 words).

5. Mikhail Falaleyev article headlined "With pen and arms" says that the Defence Ministry is going to set up a news agency; p 7 (700 words).

6. Ivan Yegorov article headlined "To answer for Bolotnaya" says that the Prosecutor General's Office has finalized indictment on the criminal cases involving opposition activists Sergei Udaltsov and Leonid Razvozzhayev; p 7 (450 words).

7. Yevgeny Shestakov article headlined "Maidan of Mercedes cars" looks at the OSCE ministerial meeting in Kiev where European ministers have tried hard to interfere in the country's domestic affairs; p 8 (900 words).

8. Maria Kuptsova article headlined "Mobile phones betray everyone" says that The Washington Post has published another batch of NSA's classified materials revealed by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden; p 8 (100 words).

9. Newspaper publishes the law on the 2014-16 federal budget; pp 18-19.

Izvestia

1. Lyudmila Podobedova article headlined "Gazprom, Rosneft to be obliged to buy Russian [equipment]" says that lawmakers are drafting amendments to the relevant law to oblige Gazprom and Rosneft to buy only Russian equipment for the development of offshore deposits; pp 1, 5 (734 words).

2. Yelena Malay and Dmitry Runkevich article headlined "Deputies propose imprisonment for acts of provocation" says that a deputy from A Just Russia has suggested that punishment for unintentional incitement of ethnic conflicts be toughened; pp 1-2 (429 words).

3. Article by head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov headlined "Defending Russia's interests" comments on accusations that Chechnya is involved in setting up armed groups; pp 1, 4 (864 words).

4. Ivan Cheberko report "Infrastructure of Roscosmos deprived of head" says that the head of the Russian Federal Space Agency's biggest company, the center for the use of the land-based space infrastructure, has tendered his resignation; pp 1-2 (500 words).

5. Alexei Krivoruchek report "Interior Ministry to pelt demonstrators with Tomatoes" says that the Interior Ministry has ordered new grenades with irritant effect; p 5 (500 words).

6. Yanina Sokolovskaya article headlined "Ukrainian government ready to discuss early elections" says that the Ukrainian cabinet is ready to discuss early parliamentary and presidential elections with the opposition after protesters unblock access to government buildings; p 8 (642 words).

7. Konstantin Volkov article headlined "Mahmud Ahmadinezhad being made scapegoat of" says that it appears that the new Iranian leadership is going to lay the blame for the country's economic problems resulting from international sanctions on former president Mahmud Ahmadinezhad; p 8 (443 words).

8. Konstantin Volkov article headlined "U.S. Vice President Joe Biden fails to reconcile Beijing and Tokyo" says that Joe Biden's visit to Beijing has failed to ease tensions between China and Japan, and features a Russian expert's comment; p 8 (610 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Mikhail Rostovsky article headlined "How to save our past" contemplates over peculiarities of the Russian history; pp 1, 5 (2,714 words).

2. Alexander Minkin article headlined "You, our golden ones" comments on the fight between State Duma deputies earlier this week, one of them being deputy head of the Chechen government; pp 1-2 (844 words).

3. Marina Ozerova report "'I thought: I will enter and see Zhirinovsky on gallows'" looks at the parliamentary hearing at the State Duma dedicated to ethnic issues; pp 1-2 (450 words).

4. Maria Perevozkina article headlined "Is it easy to be revolutionary?" features a correspondent's report on protests in Kiev; p 4 (1,445 words).

5. Igor Karmazin article headlined "Vitaly Klitschko: These authorities to last month" features a brief interview with Ukrainian opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko; p 4 (599 words).

RBC Daily

1. Inga Vorobyeva and Alexander Litoy article headlined "'Green' injustice" says a new party that will be headed by Gleb Fetisov from the Green Alliance and former A Just Russia member, prominent opposition leader Gennady Gudkov is likely to be set up in January 2014. The new party will become the key leftist force and will aim to win a victory over the A Just Russia party at the 2016 State Duma elections, the article says; pp 1-2 (700 words).

2. Alexander Litoy interview with Yelena Savva, wife of professor and human rights activist Mikhail Savva, who has been accused of having links with the CIA by the Federal Security Service; p 2 (900 words).

3. Inga Vorobyeva article headlined "'I also sometimes get rusty water running from tap'" looks into the forum of the All-Russia People's Front, which was attended by president Vladimir Putin, who admitted he encountered problems with utilities; p 3 (450 words).

4. Alisa Shtykina article headlined "Constitution is to blame for everything" says that according to the analysis conducted by the center for Political and Scientific Thought and Ideology, the present-day constitution leads to Russia's deterioration and needs to be replaced; p 3 (550 words).

5. Denis Levko article headlined "Olympics not for everyone but for each" comments on the accessibility of Sochi Olympic tickets for ordinary Russians; p 14 (700 words).

Noviye Izvestia

1. Konstantin Bakanov interview with prominent rock-singer Diana Arbenina, who comments on her support of the Russian opposition and defendants in high-profile Bolotnaya case; pp 1, 14 (1,100 words).

Novaya Gazeta

1. Olga Mudafirova interview with Security Service of Ukraine general Alexander Skybnetsky on mass protests in Kiev; pp 5, 6 (900 words).

2. Oleg Khlebnikov article headlined "Most popular Russian poetess" mocks Oboronservis case defendant Yevgenia Vasilyeva for her poetry; p 9 (600 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda

1. Vladimir Vorsobin's article headlined "This revolution made me angry" features an extensive report on a week of protests in Kiev, saying the new generation of Kiev protesters are aggressive and violent; p 4 (900 words).

2. Olesya Dubovik article headlined "Klitschko compiles execution lists" says that opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko has begun to make a list of 'Maidan enemies', who will be punished when the opposition gets to the power; p 4 (200 words).

3. Vladimir Kornilov article headlined "Maidanschiki" investigates the dispersal of protests by Ukrainian riot police unit Berkut, saying that Ukrainian nationalists acted as provocateurs and were responsible for violent clashes themselves, whereas the police only reacted to mass unrest; pp 5-6 (1,400 words).

Trud

1. Alexei Pozdnyakov article headlined "Local authorities should listen to people's opinion" features some excerpts from a phone-in session between Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyev and Moscow region residents; p 5 (1,800 words).

Krasnaya Zvezda

Yury Borodin interview with president of Ingushetia Yunus-Bek Yevkurov on the military development of the region; pp 4-5 (1,700 words).