What the Papers Say, Apr. 11, 2014

Kommersant

1. Alexander Chernykh and Kirill Belyaninov article headlined "Sanctions leave mark on science" says that the U.S. Department of Energy has banned Russian scientists from working in its laboratories. The Russian Education and Science Ministry warns of retaliatory measures while physicists say that with the ban the U.S. government "punishes the entire scientific community"; pp 1, 5 (724 words).

2. Yury Barsukov and Yelena Chernenko article headlined "To be repaid with gas" says the president has warned the biggest European consumers of Russian gas of the possibility of cutting gas supplies over Ukraine's debts and demanded that talks be held as soon as possible, but with each country separately. The move is aimed at strengthening Moscow's stance ahead of the talks on the Ukrainian settlement set for Apr. 17 ; pp 1, 7 (1,083 words).

3. Yulia Gallyamova et al. report headlined "Ukraine blocks rail" says that the conflict between Moscow and Kiev may put an end to the rail service between the countries; pp 1, 11 (610 words).

4. Andrei Kolesnikov article headlined "Underwater roots connect president with Crimea" provides an ironic account of President Vladimir Putin's meeting with activists of the All-Russia People's Front; pp 1-2 (1,181 words).

5. Taisia Bekbulatova et al. report headlined "Crimea, Sevastopol fit single voting day" says that today the Crimean State Council is to approve the republic's constitution and Sevastopol is to approve the city's charter. Meanwhile, elections to local parliaments in the newly Russian regions may take place in September along with other regional elections in Russia; p 2 (648 words).

6. Natalya Gorodetskaya and Andrei Pertsev article headlined "United Russia ready to speed up municipal reform" says that head of the United Russia faction at the State Duma Vladimir Vasilyev has promised that the bill canceling mayoral elections in big cities will be passed in the first reading by Apr. 21. Experts do not rule out that the rule will be applied to all towns irrespective of the size; p 3 (591 words).

7. Irina Nagornykh et al. report headlined "President, premier to decide what to hand over to regions" says that the government has tabled a bill enabling the president and the prime minister to hand over federal powers to regions; p 3 (654 words).

8. Kirill Belyaninov and Nikolay Sergeiev article headlined "Hewlett-Packard paying for Prosecutor-General's Office" says that the Russian branch of the Hewlett-Packard company has pleaded guilty of giving bribes to representatives of the government for a generous contract to supply computer equipment to the Prosecutor-General's Office; p 4 (593 words).

9. Kirill Belyaninov et al. report headlined "They reproach FSB for Boston terrorist attack" says that Washington has accused Russian special services of concealing information about Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the suspect held responsible for the terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon; p 4 (815 words).

10. Igor Lesovskikh et al. report headlined "Generals lack control over subordinates" says that Putin has dismissed a number of top law enforcers in the regions and looks at the reasons behind some dismissals; p 4 (431 words).

11. Alexei Shapovalov article headlined "Budget rule for investor" says that First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov has assured foreign entrepreneurs at the international Eastern Forum in Berlin that Russia's economy is stable; p 6 (556 words).

12. Ilya Barabanov article headlined "Center promises amnesty to east" says that Kiev has promised amnesty to all participants in protests in the southeast of the country if they put down their arms and retreat from seized buildings; p 7 (571 words).

13. Sergei Strokan article headlined "Greece's exploding relations with EU" says that a terrorist attack in Athens ahead of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit shows the strengthening of far right forces, which signals that they are not content with the EU's prescriptions for economic recovery; p 7 (479 words).

14. Kirill Belyaninov et al. report headlined "Russian nuclear project avoids Ukrainian disintegration" says that the U.S. has decided to resume cooperation with Russia on the renewed Nunn-Lugar program; p 7 (730 words).

15. Maria Yefimova article headlined "Russia has nothing to vote in PACE with" says that PACE has deprived the Russian delegation of its voting right until the year end; p 7 (600 words).

16. Grigory Tumanov article titled "Prisons given two billions for redemption" says that the State Duma has approved a state program worth 2.3 billion rubles envisaging major reform of penal institutions; p 5 (600 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Alexei Gorbachev article headlined "Navalny gets new case" says that a libel case has been opened against opposition leader Alexei Navalny at the request of municipal deputy of Moscow's Babushkinsky district Alexei Lisovenko; pp 1, 3 (654 words).

2. Petr Tverdov and Alexandra Samarina article headlined "Vladimir Putin's anti-bureaucratic manifest" says that at a meeting with the activists of All-Russia People's Front, Putin gave them a go-ahead to control officials in implementing his May decrees; pp 1, 3 (778 words).

3. Anastasia Bashkatova article "World Bank likes weak ruble" says that experts are taken aback by the World Bank's statement that the weakening ruble will soon cause the Russian economy to improve; pp 1, 4 (962 words).

4. Viktoria Panfilova article headlined "Russia buying up Kyrgyzstan" says that Gazprom has gained control over the Kyrgyz energy holding company Kyrgyzgas; pp 1, 7 (740 words).

5. Tatyana Ivzhenko article headlined "Trade war becomes popular" says that more people are boycotting Russian goods in Ukraine and contemplates over consequences for the economy; pp 1, 7 (1,323 words).

6. Darya Tsiryulik article headlined "PACE issues ultimatum to Moscow" says that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, or PACE, has deprived Russia of its voting right until the end of 2014 and banned it from participating in election monitoring. If Moscow does not return Crimea, PACE threatened to annul the powers of the Russian delegation altogether; pp 1, 8 (877 words).

7. Ivan Rodin article headlined "Authorities to get closer to people via election cancelation" looks at the municipal governments' reform that cancels elections of town and district heads as well as local deputies; p 2 (8181 words).

8. Vladislav Maltsev article headlined "Russian Orthodox Church suggests stylizing democracy as antiquity" says that the most famous spokesman for the Russian Orthodox Church, Vsevolod Chaplin, has suggested that rallies should not be authorized; referendums, on the contrary, should be used more widely and regional authorities be granted more powers; p 2 (586 words).

9. Editorial headlined "Apolitical option 'none of the above'" comments on the results of polls that show that the United Russia party will suffer the most if the 'none of the above' option is included in ballot papers; p 2 (511 words).

10. Alexandra Samarina article headlined "Carte blanche. Simplification of Themis" looks at a bill banning the use of prejudgment in trials on collective crimes and at how plea bargains are used in political trials; p 3 (909 words).

11. Savely Vezhin article headlined "Gambling lobbyists prefer to ignore experts" says that the government has approved amendments to the bill on gambling having ignored the comments of the Justice Ministry, the Economic Development Ministry and those of independent experts; p 4 (367 words).

12. Igor Naumov article headlined "Ukrainian euro-integration threatens state defense order" says that Putin has chaired a meeting with heads of leading defense companies to discuss measures on import substitution of dual purpose and defense output; p 4 (592 words).

13. Article by head of the Audit Chamber Tatyana Golikova headlined "Audit Chamber ready for new tasks" says that the chamber will focus on preventing economic and financial risks; p 5 (2,091 words).

14. Alexander Shpakov interview with chairman of the Moscow Confederation of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, State Duma lawmaker Yelena Panina headlined "Moscow business to nominate candidates for primaries", in which she speaks about the participation of business representatives in Moscow primaries through the initiative called My Moscow; p 6 (549 words).

15. Anton Khodasevich article headlined "Expensive Belarus" says that the Belarussian government plans to cut subsidies for utilities payments; p 7 (590 words).

16. Yury Paniyev article headlined "NATO ready to deploy troops near Russian borders" says that in response to the Russian military threat to Ukraine, NATO may deploy U.S. troops in Baltic countries, Poland and Romania; p 8 (752 words).

17. Vladimir Skosyrev article headlined "Pentagon gains footing in Mongolia's steppe" says that Washington is going to increase military assistance to Mongolia aiming to reduce its dependence on China and Russia; p 8 (531 words).

18. Anna Gushchina article headlined "Kim Jong-un gets lifelong position" says that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been unanimously elected First Chairman of the State Defense Committee; p 8 (400 words).

Vedomosti

1. Maxim Tovkaylo and Galina Starinskaya article headlined "Investor from Rosneft" says that the government is planning to take 95 percent of Rosneft's profits for 2013. Its head Igor Sechin, however, is ready to give only 25 percent while referring to the company's plans to buy energy assets; pp 1, 5 (600 words).

2. Editorial headlined "Turn in history" comments on lawmakers' initiative to conduct a probe into the collapse of the U.S.S.R. and impose liability on the politicians responsible for it, including the first Soviet president, Mikhail Gorbachev; pp 1, 6 (400 words).

3. Polina Khimshiashvili article headlined "Russia punished with silence" says that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has deprived Russia of its voting right until the end of 2014. Head of the Russian delegation Alexei Pushkov said Russia was leaving the April session in protest; p 2 (400 words).

4. Svetlana Bocharova article headlined "Mayors must be elected" says that local governments are concerned over the bill limiting the number of local elections and ask to let at least mayors of towns be elected; p 2 (350 words).

5. Alexei Nikolsky article headlined "Engines of counter-revolution" says that Putin has instructed state companies to consider import substitution. Experts warn the trend may affect the defense state order; p 3 (500 words).

6. Margarita Papchenkova article headlined "Tax punishment for Crimea" says that the U.S. Finance Ministry has confirmed that it has suspended talks with Russia on the FATCA agreement; p 5 (700 words).

7. Editorial headlined "Blessed innocence" doubts that Moscow has a long-term strategy to deal with the political crisis caused by Crimea's accession to Russia; p 6 (300 words).

8. Andrei Babitsky article headlined "Sovereignty inside and outside" comments on the initiative of lawmakers to initiate a probe into the actions of Russian politicians, which resulted in the collapse of the Soviet Union; p 7 (400 words).

9. Mikhail Serov article headlined "Thing of week: Gas control valve" says that Russia can afford a small gas war now; p 7 (350 words).

10. Yelena Khodyakova article headlined "Putin's warning" says that Putin has written letters to 18 European leaders suggesting that talks on Ukrainian gas debts be held; p 12 (400 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Kira Latukhina article headlined "What partners have to say?" says that the Russian president has written letters to leaders of 18 European countries buying gas from Russia and suggested holding talks on the situation in Ukraine and its gas debts to Russia as soon as possible; pp 1-2 (750 words).

2. Petr Likhovanov interview with Ukrainian presidential candidate and former Party of Regions lawmaker Oleh Tsaryov headlined "Tsaryov with head" speaking about the incident with radicals in the southern Ukrainian city Mykolaiv; pp 1, 8 (800 words).

3. Natalia Yachmennikova interview with spaceman Oleg Kotov headlined "Stations and sanctions" speaking about the work at the International Space Station and whether the Western sanctions will affect it; p 1 (2,200 words).

4. Op-ed by Valery Vyzhutovich headlined "Inciting agreement" says that the Communications and Mass Communications Ministry has suggested that mass media outlets should be punished for reports leading to conflicts on ethnic grounds; p 3 (800 words).

5. Vladislav Vorobyev article headlined "Black mark for Maidan" says that four influential international organizations have slammed Kiev for barring Russian journalists from entering Ukraine; p 8 (500 words).

6. Igor Dunayevskiy article headlined "Molotov cocktails and grants" gives highlights of U.S. political analyst Steve Wiseman's research on how the U.S. State Department has orchestrated the Ukrainian coup; p 9 (600 words).

7. Article by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin headlined "Russian space" looks at the Russian concept of space exploration; p 17 (3,300 words).

8. Ivan Yegorov article titled "Meagre politeness" says that the Border Service's directorate of the security service, or FSB, is currently being set up in Crimea; p 10 (1,000 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Alexander Minkin article headlined "Spies in Mercedes cars" speculates on what could have made the Hewlett-Packard company bribe officials in order to supply computer equipment to the Prosecutor-General's Office; pp 1, 3 (396 words).

2. Igor Karmazin article headlined "Donbass mirror of Maidan" says that the Party of Regions has demanded an amnesty for protesters in the country's east and draws analogies between protests in Maidan and current protests in the east; p 2 (596 words).

3. Ignat Kalinin article headlined "U.S. ship Donald Cook to be received in Black Sea in line with Cold War standards" says that the American torpedo boat destroyer Donald Cook is expected to enter the Black Sea today and likens the situation to the visits of U.S. ships during the Cold War; p 2 (493 words).

4. Marina Perevozkina article headlined "Donetsk erects first boundary pillar" features a correspondent's report from Donetsk and brief interviews with pro-Russian protesters and locals; p 2 (991 words).

5. Mikhail Zubov article titled "Gorbachev did not suggest State Duma dissolution" says that the first Soviet president, Mikhail Gorbachev, has not taken seriously the State Duma lawmakers' initiative to conduct a probe against him over the collapse of the U.S.S.R.; pp 1, 5 (300 words)

Izvestia

1. Lyudmila Podobedova article headlined "FAS suggests to deprive Gazprom of gas storing monopoly" reports on the Federal Anti-monopoly Service's initiative to allow independent gas producers to build their own underground gas storages; pp 1-2 (900 words).

2. Konstantin Volkov interview with the head of the Russian delegation at the PACE, Alexei Pushkov, saying that the contact between the PACE and Russian parliament will be ended; p 3 (650 words).

3. Svetlana Povoraznyuk article headlined "Mass media hurry to take stand on Crimean media market" says that a number of media outlets, including Rossiiskaya Gazeta and Komsomolskaya Pravda, are planning to set up offices in the peninsula; p 7 (600 words).

4. German Petelin and Alexander Raskin article headlined "Oboronservis air carrier runs into debt to partners and staff" says that the air carrier called Chkalov Avia, that provided the staff of the Defense Ministry-controlled Oboronservis with air tickets, cannot pay off its debts; p 6 (700 words).

5. Yegor Kholmogorov article titled "For federalism renounced by Europe" looks into the resolution on Ukraine adopted by the PACE on Apr. 10 ; p 12 (900 words).

6. Alexei Krivoruchek article headlined "'Kalashnikov to protect rifle's image" says that the Kalashnikov concern has filed on application to register 3D images of a number of its assault rifles as trademarks; p 5 (600 words).

7. Dmitry Runkevich and Yelena Malay article titled "Court initiated proceedings against Dozhd TV following veterans' lawsuit" says that a Moscow court has started hearings against the Dozhd TV channel over a controversial poll about the Leningrad siege; p 5 (350 words).

Novaya Gazeta

1. Alexander Mineyev report "They put Russia out of temper and Europe" looks at the recent developments in Kharkiv and Donbass and says that the West is accusing Moscow of destabilizing the situation in eastern Ukraine; p 4 (1,200 words).

2. Newspaper publishes Mikhail Gorbachev's comment on the State Duma's call upon the Prosecutor-General's Office to prosecute him over the collapse of the Soviet Union; p 5 (250 words).

3. Alexei Polukhin report "Catchers of social network" says that pro-Kremlin structures are dividing control over the social network VKontakte; p 6 (200 words).

4. Yekaterina Polishchuk report "Martial arts VKontakte" looks at those who are trying to obtain control over Pavel Durov's social network VKontakte; p 6 (750 words).

5. Yury Revich report "Headquarters do not like ciphered message" looks at the future of VKontakte and says that the service Telegram, which the Russian special services cannot control, may become the main prize in the corporate war for the social network; p 7 (500 words).

6. Pavel Felgengauer report "Operation 'Cafe Barneo'" says that Russian paratroopers have carried out a mass parachute drop near the North Pole; p 8 (700 words).

7. Yekaterina Fomina report "Dozhd goes to people" looks at the results of the fund raising campaign carried out by the embattled independent television channel Dozhd; p 9 (1,100 words).

RBK Daily

1. Svetlana Reyter report "We are, in fact, Russia" looks at the situation in Ukraine's eastern city Donetsk, whose residents have declared the region "people's republic"; pp 1-2 (1,300 words).

2. Roman Badanin report "Who will head Supreme Court" says that it appears that the incumbent head of the Supreme Court, Vyacheslav Lebedev, will have to compete with City Court chairwoman Olga Yegorova for the post of the head of the merged Supreme Court; pp 1, 3 (400 words).

3. Svetlana Reyter interview with Donetsk governor Serhiy Taruta who has expressed hope that it will be possible to resolve the crisis in the region peacefully; p 2 (550 words).

4. Svetlana Reyter interview with secretary of the Donetsk City Council, Serhiy Bohachev, who is concerned that the storming of the regional administration will result in casualties; p 2 (600 words).

5. Dmitry Nikitin report "See you in Brussels" says that in his letter to leaders of EU countries, Putin has warned that Russia may suspend gas deliveries to Ukraine; p 5 (600 words).

Noviye Izvestia

1. Konstantin Nikolayev report "PACE limits Russian delegation's powers" says that PACE deputies have voted for the resolution denouncing the referendum in Crimea and its merger with Russia; p 2 (200 words).

2. Elya Grigoryeva report "Russia awaits sharp rise in food prices" says that the weakening of the ruble will result in an increase in prices on imported food products in Russia in the next few months; p 2 (400 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda

1. Alexander Gamov interview headlined "West in Ukraine repeats mistake of Chamberlain who 'flirted' with Hitler" with writer Yury Polyakov who looks at who may benefit from propaganda of fascism in Ukraine; pp 1, 8 (1,300 words).

2. Alexander Grishin report "Can PACE do without us?" says that the PACE has stripped the Russian delegation of voting rights. Author says that Russia can do without PACE and expresses doubt whether the PACE itself can do without Russia; p 4 (250 words).

3. Alexander Shevchenko report "Uniform that soldiers wear is not ours. It is American" says that activists in Donetsk have found out that it was not foreign mercenaries who were brought to eastern Ukraine, it was Ukrainian servicemen in foreign uniform; p 6 (500 words).

Trud

1. Sergei Frolov report "Luhansk is our Stalingrad..." looks at mass protests in eastern Ukraine; pp 1-2 (1,200 words).

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