What the Papers Say, Dec. 26, 2013

Kommersant

1.Oleg Rubnikovich and Svetlana Dementyeva article headlined "Sergei Pugachev arrested in absentia" says that, according to some sources, the Investigative Committee has put a former senator from the republic of Tyva Sergei Pugachev on a wanted list in line with a criminal case over Mezhprombank's bankruptcy; pp 1, 8 (826 words).

2. Andrei Kolesnikov report headlined "Take-2" gives an ironic account of the session of the Supreme State Council which resulted in a $2 billion loan for Belarus; pp 1-2 (875 words).

3. Yekaterina Gerashchenko article headlined "Ostozhenka makes Moscow luxurious" says that housing on Moscow's Ostozhenka street is among the most expensive housing in the world; pp 1, 8 (510 words).

4. Alexei Sokovnin article headlined "Supreme Court evokes Yukos cases" says that the Supreme Court has initiated supervisory proceedings over the first and second Yukos cases; pp 1-2 (572 words).

5. Tatyana Grishina and Dmitry Butrin article headlined "State companies to announce salaries" says that in 2014 state companies and corporations will be obliged to reveal salaries of their staff in line with another anti-corruption drive; p 2 (670 words).

6. Natalya Gorodetskaya article headlined "Federation Council celebrates 20th anniversary without oligarchs and elderly" looks at the session of the Federation Council timed to its 20th anniversary; p 3 (635 words).

7. Ivan Safronov article headlined "Defense Ministry holds staff maneuvres" says that the Defense Ministry is considering candidacies for the position of commander-in-chief of the ground troops and looks at the options; p 3 (473 words).

8. Nikolai Sergeiev article headlined "Freedom chosen for Mukhtar Ablyazov's lawyer" says that Yelena Tishenko, lawyer of the former head of the BTA-bank Mukhtar Ablyazov, has been released under a written undertaking not to leave the city because of her cooperation with investigators conducting a probe into money-laundering episode; p 4 (449 words).

9. Vyacheslav Kozlov and Vladislav Litovchenko article headlined "Another victim in 'Bolotnaya case'" says that the instructor of special task forces who studied the actions of the special task force during the Bolotnaya disorders and found them unprofessional has been suspended from teaching; p 4 (500 words).

10. Olga Kuznetsova article headlined "UN stands between Dinka and Nuer" says that the UN Security Council has decided to increase the number of peacemakers in South Sudan; p 6 (505 words).

11. Angelina Shunina article headlined "Syrian opposition learns about way to chemical weapons" says that following rebels' attack on chemical stockpiles Damascus has accused countries providing aid to the Syrian opposition of handing over information about chemical weapons; p 6 (356 words).

12. Sergei Strokan article headlined "DPRK sets off south alarm" says that the North Korean leader has addressed new threats to South Korea and ordered the army to be ready for a no-notice war; p 6 (470 words).

13. Yulia Gallyamova and Yury Barsukov article headlined "Northern Latitudinal Railway to be given to investors" says that the Transport Ministry is seeking an investor for the construction of the Northern latitudinal railway project; p 9 (603 words).

14. Anna Solodovnikova article headlined "Explore or pay" says that the Natural Resources Ministry wants to speed up the process of exploration of the Russian Arctic shelf, threatening state energy giants Gazprom and Rosneft with deprivation of tax benefits; p 9 (460 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Nikolai Simonov article headlined "Western pharmaceutical companies challenge Russian healthcare" says that Russia's dependence on foreign pharmaceutical companies threatens lives of people with diseases; pp 1-2, 5 (3,710 words).

2. Alexander Chernyavskiy article headlined "Krasnoyarsk speaker seeking younger governor" says that many leading politicians and experts in the Krasnoyarsk region have mentioned the possibility of an early gubernatorial election; pp 1-2 (552 words).

3. Yekaterina Trifonova and Ivan Rodin article headlined "Exact frames to be imposed on investigators, judges" says that the ruling party and human rights activists are drafting a bill to impose tough restrictions on the period of suspects' detention in custody in an attempt to do away with bureaucratic delays; pp 1, 3 (1,161 words).

4. Tatyana Ivzhenko article headlined "Yanukovych may sacrifice Azarov" says that the warming-up in Russia-Ukraine relations is unlikely to last long judging by the absence of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych at the session of the Supreme Eurasian Council. His snubbing of the meeting signals that Kiev is not going to join the Eurasian integration process despite the EU's tough stance and Russia's economic aid, the article says; pp 1, 6 (1,032 words).

5. Alexandra Samarina article headlined "Suspension lines cropped for 'gold parachute jumpers'" says that trade unions and the government have signed an agreement to oblige state corporations and companies to reveal information about their employees' salaries. Kremlin wants to involve society in the anti-corruption drive and steal initiative from the anti-corruption politician Alexei Navalny seeking to maintain social stability; pp 1, 3 (601 words).

6. Alina Terekhova article headlined "Arctic ambitions bump into infrastructure" looks at an extended meeting to discuss efficient development of the Arctic held at the Natural Resources Ministry on Dec. 25. Russian companies should step up their effort to begin the development as soon as possible in order not to lose prospective markets, participants said but added that it was not an easy task given non-existing infrastructure; pp 1, 4 (726 words).

7. Editorial headlined "Most unnecessary cinema" says that film director Nikolai Dostal has returned the money the cinema foundation allocated for the production of the Monk and Demon film as the sum is not sufficient to make a film and they have failed to find investors for the project; p 2 (554 words).

8. Vladislav Maltsev article headlined "Moldova doubles Christmas" says that Chisinau's maneuvres between the East and the West resulted in two official Christmas holidays in Moldova; p 2 (471 words).

9. Gleb Postnov article headlined "Carte blanche. Administrative, spiritual ties of Tatar people" says that the Tatar government has approved a program aimed to preserve national identity of the Tatar people; p 3 (793 words).

10. Alexei Gorbachev and Yekaterina Trifonova article headlined "Party brands do not work anymore" says that the local authorities are expected to give up party lists in favor of candidates in single-seat constituencies which makes it easier to ensure the victory of United Russia candidates; p 3 (484 words).

11. Svetlana Gamova article headlined "Bucharest springs surprise for Chisinau" comments on the Moldovan prime minister's visit to Bucharest where he was accused of interfering in Rumanian domestic affairs and advised to adopt a tougher stance regarding Dniester region and Russia's military presence in the region; p 6 (606 words).

12. Yury Paniev article headlined "Europe leaving dangerous zone" says that the European Commission has forecast growth in the European economy in 2014 after two years of stagnation and recession; p 7 (725 words).

13. Yevgenia Novikova article headlined "Split in Turkey's ruling party deepening" says that the Turkish president is distancing himself from the prime minister amid escalating corruption scandal; p 7 (755 words).

Vedomosti

1.Margarita Papchenkova et al. report headlined "Interior Ministry to begin surveillance of privatization" says that a special unit to check investors willing to privatize state companies has been set up under the Interior Ministry; pp 1, 4 (723 words).

2. Svetlana Bocharova and Alexei Nikolsky article headlined "Faction of like-minded" says that State Duma deputies have tabled only 38 out of 194 bills passed during the autumn session, the rest of the bills were drafted by the president, government and regional authorities; pp 1, 3 (556 words).

3. Editorial headlined "Hunting offshore businesses" comments on the president's order to step up de-offshorization in Russia. By forcing companies from offshore areas instead of working to ensure that property rights are observed and investment climate is improved the authorities undermine trust in themselves, the article says; pp 1, 6 (482 words).

4. Alexei Nikolsky article headlined "For friendship but without money" says that polls conducted by the Levada Center show that Russians consider Ukrainians to be a brotherly people, support Russia's policy towards Ukraine and oppose Ukraine's integration with Europe. At the same time they oppose the Russian authorities' decision to grant Ukraine financial aid and a gas discount; p 2 (407 words).

5. Anastasia Kornya article headlined "Yukos tried in a wrong way" says that the Supreme Court may cancel the decision to collect 17 billion rubles from former Yukos head Mikhail Khodorkovsky and former Menatep head Platon Lebedev which will facilitate Khodorkovsky's return to Russia; p 2 (530 words).

6. Editorial headlined "Export of berries" says that the draft national export strategy till 2030 shows an inertial scenario of export diversification: water, fur and berries are to be added to oil, gas and fertilizers; p 6 (283 words).

7. Vadim Volkov article headlined "Extra Jus: year of prohibitive politics" says that the State Duma has passed some 40 prohibitive bills this year and slams the trend; p 7 (654 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1.Taras Fomchenkov and Tatyana Shadrina article headlined "Not another word" says that the Federation Council is to amend the law on personal data next year to make online shopping more secure; pp 1, 4 (500 words).

2. Mikhail Falaleyev interview with head of the Moscow directorate of the Federal Migration Service Olga Kirillova about registration of labor migrants in Moscow; pp 1, 6 (1,200 words).

3. Vasily Mironov article headlined "Minus and minus" says that almost 30 percent of Russian companies have become loss-making this year; pp 1, 4 (500 words).

4. Kira Latukhina article headlined "Union of efficiency" says that after the session of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Russia and Belarus President Putin announced granting a $2 billion loan to Minsk; p 2 (650 words).

5. Maxim Makarychev article headlined "Always closely watched" looks at Christmas video address of former NSA contractor Edward Snowden; p 8 (200 words).

6.Anna Fedyakina article headlined "Dniester region wants to live with Russian laws" says that Dniester region's Supreme Council has passed in the first reading a bill envisaging the application of Russian laws on the territory of the unrecognized republic; p 8 (350 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta (weekly)

1. Vladimir Snegirev article headlined "Kalashnikov recoil" pays tribute to late Russian arms designer Mikhail Kalashnikov; p 3 (350 words).

Izvestia

1.Dmitry Yevstifeyev article headlined "Bilalov brothers waiting for amnesty" says that the amnesty on the occasion of the anniversary of the Russian constitution may affect former top managers of the Resorts of North Caucasus company Akhmed and Magomed Bilalov; pp 1, 5 (785 words).

2. Alena Sivkova article headlined "Konstantin Kostin and Civil Society Development Foundation take Navalny to court" says that head of the Civil Society Development Foundation Konstantin Kostin has filed a suit against Alexei Navalny to defend his honor and dignity; p 2 (348 words).

3. Petr Kozlov article headlined "United Russia and ONF to compete over implementation of Putin's address" looks at how the ruling United Russia party and All-Russia People's Front, or ONF, are going to fulfill the initiatives voiced by President Vladimir Putin in his annual address; p 2 (300 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1.Yekaterina Sazhneva article headlined "Dalny police department gets back" says that the parents of the Muslim youths accused of recent arsons of Orthodox churches in Tatarstan complain that their children are being tortured into confession by law-enforcers; pp 1, 10 (2, 088 words).

2. Igor Subbotin article headlined "'Information on Berezovsky case to be classified'" wonders why the probe into Boris Berezovsky's death in Britain is taking so long and whether the results will ever be made public; p 3 (443 words).

3. Vladislav Inozemtsev article headlined "Last year of economic growth" says that Russia is sinking into stagnation and looks at the reasons behind it; p 3 (1,353 words).

4. Andrei Yashlavsky article headlined "Michelle and Barack Obama aim for divorce?" looks at rumors about the possible divorce of the U.S. president and his wife; p 3 (801 words).

RBK Daily

1. Alexander Litoy and Stepan Opalev article "Anticorruption vocabulary" looks at two controversies involving prominent opposition figure Alexei Navalny: his accusations of undeclared property abroad against United Russia lawmaker Alexander Babakov and a lawsuit filed against him by the head of the Civil Society Development Foundation, Konstantin Kostin, over foul language Navalny uses in his communications on social networking sites; p 2 (500 words).

2. Ivan Petrov article "Anti-stress 'Snezhinka' for Interior Ministry" profiles a computer program called Snezhinka (Rus: snowflake) that the Interior Ministry intends to use to assess the psychological state of its staff; p 2 (470 words).

3. Ivan Petrov piece "Court against motherland" looks at the Supreme Court's decision to review the criminal case against former Yukos oil company owners Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev; p 2 (500 words).

4. Alina Yevstigneyeva article "Frozen labour" sums up a survey conducted by the paper among 80 major enterprises and companies in various sectors, concluding that the situation on the job market in 2014 in Russia will be difficult; p 3 (800 words).

5. Yelena Ivankina article "Vladimir Potanin has been given time for reconciliation" looks at divorce proceedings filed by one of Russia's richest men, Vladimir Potanin; p 7 (350 words).

6. Yevgeny Krasnikov report "Asked for Post" says the editors-in-chief of several major publications have written a letter to President Putin asking him to let Russian Post keep 3 billion rubles allocated for delivering newspapers; p 8 (600 words).

Noviye Izvestia

1. Alexander Kamenskiy article "Best personnel of all" looks at controversies involving various senior officials in the region of Chelyabinsk ; p 2 (400 words).

Krasnaya Zvezda

1. Alexander Khvastov and Petr Chachilo interview with the head of the federal directorate for the safe storage and decommissioning of chemical weapons, Valery Kapashin, headlined "Chemical weapons to be recycled"; p 2 (1,500 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda

1. Yelena Chinkova report "Is Michelle leaving Barack?" looks at rumors of marital troubles in the U.S. president's family; p 4 (200 words).

2. Oleg Potapov article "Traffic police for tanks" profiles the military directorate for road traffic safety; p 8 (700 words).

3. Interview with presidential envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev; pp 10-11 (1,600 words).

4. Yelena Chinkova piece "Britons are looking for compromising materials about their politicians in Russia" contains an interview with intelligence historian Gennady Sokolov about how Soviet secret services tried to approach Ralph Miliband and "to what extent 'the Russian trace' is dangerous for the political career of his high-ranking sons"; p 13 (1,100 words).

Tvoi Den

1. Alexander Popov piece "State of solitude" looks at reports that one of Russia's most influential tycoons, billionaire Vladimir Potanin, is divorcing his wife; p 2 (200 words).