What the Papers Say, May 23, 2014

Kommersant

1. Svetlana Dementyeva and Ksenia Dementyeva article headlined "Master skills not to be lost" says that the VIP clients of the Master Bank, whose deposits were not registered properly, have got a chance of returning their money; pp 1, 10 (846 words).

2. Anna Solodovnikova et al. report headlined "Igor Sechin approaches Barents Sea" says that Rosneft is buying the Pechora LNG project; pp 1, 11 (811 words).

3. Dmitry Butrin article headlined "St. Petersburg forum brought back to life" says that due to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the current session of the World International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg is discussing mostly the deals with more or less viable prospects; pp 1, 6 (779 words).

4. Andrei Kolesnikov report headlined "Soya program developed near Blagoveshchensk" says that President Vladimir Putin has chaired a meeting to discuss the elimination of consequences of last summer's heavy floods and has set three Amur tigers free; pp 1, 3 (1,063 words).

5. Maxim Ivanov and Viktor Khamrayev article headlined "Vladimir Zhirinovsky suggests deputies should not sit too long" says that the State Duma's LDPR faction has tabled a bill on rotation of deputies once a term; p 2 (693 words).

6. Vyacheslav Kozlov and Pavel Korobov article headlined "Rabbi's books get tried" says that the Moscow Court of Arbitration has ruled that the Library of the U.S. Congress should return seven books from rabbi Schneerson's collection which Moscow lent it in 1994; p 4 (470 words).

7. Vladislav Litovchenko and Vladimir Barinov article headlined "Taxes blocked for Alexander Lebedev" says that the Investigative Committee has launched a case over tax evasion by Alexander Lebedev's National Reserve Bank; p 4 (465 words).

8. Tatyana Yedovina article headlined "Nothing in between" says that foreign investors have voiced their complaints about investment climate in Russia at the World International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg; p 6 (438 words).

9. Pavel Tarasenko and Galina Dudina article headlined "East shoots ahead of election" says that the situation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions has aggravated ahead of the presidential election, which gave Kiev an opportunity to accuse Russia of attempting to disrupt the election; p 7 (504 words).

10. Sergei Strokan article headlined "Al-Qaida learns Chinese" says that radical Islamists are challenging China's ambitions to become the world leader and looks at a major terrorist attack in Urumqi; p 7 (499 words).

11. Kirill Belyaninov article headlined "US ABM system does not notice Ukraine" says that the U.S. does not plan to speed up the deployment of its missile defense system in Europe over the Ukrainian crisis; p 7 (536 words).

12. Olga Shestopal and Yelena Kovaleva article headlined "Deposit bypassed along border" looks at the progress in the talks of the Russian authorities and international payment systems; p 10 (788 words).

13. Natalya Skorlygina article headlined "Beijing gets in Russian networks" says that China has decided to invest up to $5 billion in the construction of electricity networks in Siberia; p 11 (586 words).

14. Roman Rozhkov et al. report "'Sputnik' and 'Moi Dom'" says that Russia's largest government-owned telecommunications company Rostelecom has launched the national search engine Sputnik; pp 9, 12 (650 words).

Nezavisimaya Gazeta

1. Vladimir Mukhin article headlined "Alliance ignores Moscow military forum" says that NATO representatives have decided against attending the International Security Conference to open in Moscow today; pp 1-2 (774 words).

2. Anastasia Bashkatova article headlined "Russian ministers dream of structural reforms" says that governmental officials have said at the World International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg that the situation in the country is rapidly improving. Experts, however, warn against being too much optimistic; pp 1, 4 (962 words).

3. Mikhail Sergeyev article headlined "Senators find criminals in government" says that Federation Council deputy speaker Vyacheslav Shtyrov has labelled as criminals the people who drafted the state program for aviation development as the budget keeps allocating huge amounts to the domestic aircraft building industry, but the volume of aircraft import remains high; pp 1, 4 (688 words).

4. Andrei Serenko article headlined "Volgograd governor distances himself from United Russia" says that acting Volgograd region governor Andrei Bocharov has decided against taking part in United Russia primaries. Experts say he wants to distance himself from unpopular members of the ruling party and see the move as a signal of a possibility of unexpected pre-election alliances; pp 1, 6 (626 words).

5. Tatyana Ivzhenko article headlined "New Ukrainian president to get symbolic powers" says that as Ukrainians and Western leaders are sure that the election of a legitimate president will make it possible to stabilize the situation in the country, Moscow still has doubts that the election will be legitimate; pp 1, 7 (1,433 words).

6. Darya Tsiryulik article headlined "U.S. obtains amphibian interceptor missiles" says that the U.S. has stated it has conducted the first successful tests of the Aegis Ashore system to be deployed in Romania and Poland; pp 1, 9 (802 words).

7. Ivan Rodin article headlined "Zorkin's agencies subjected to minimization" looks at the reform of the Constitutional Court that the State Duma is to approve in the third reading today and says that the Constitutional Court is turning into an operating tool of the presidential chain of command; p 2 (688 words).

8. Editorial headlined "Reiterating that 'right' Russian is left-wing Russian" contemplates over the plans of the leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk people's republic to nationalize companies unwilling to pay taxes to the republic; p 2 (480 words).

9. Alexei Gorbachev article headlined "Opposition accuses police, authorities of acts of provocation in Bolotnaya" says that co-chairmen of the RPR-Parnas party Boris Nemtsov and Ilya Yashin have testified that the clashes in Bolotnaya Ploshchad in 2012 were provoked by police which restricted the passage and began to beat up participants in the rally; p 3 (737 words).

10. Yekaterina Kuznetsova article headlined "Carte blanche. European theatre of political actions" says that the election to the European Parliament has started and looks at the forecasts; p 3 (704 words).

11. Madina Shavlokhova article headlined "Vladimir Putin inspects Far East" say that Putin has checked the progress in restoration work in the Far East regions affected by heavy floods last summer; p 4 (828 words).

12. Sergei Nikanorov article headlined "Mikhail Prokhorov's May theses" comments on the recent article of the former leader of the Civil Platform, Mikhail Prokhorov, on initiatives aiming to boost Russia's economy; p 6 (724 words).

13. Svetlana Gamova article headlined "Chisinau accuses Moscow of financing Moldovan politicians" says that the Moldovan Foreign Ministry has accused Moscow of supporting the Moldovan opposition in exchange for promoting the idea of Moldova's integration into the Eurasian Union; p 7 (655 words).

14. Vladimir Skosyrev article headlined "Modi does not rush to accept Obama's invitation" says that new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to focus on developing relations with Beijing, Moscow and Tokyo; p 8 (575 words).

15. Yevgeny Grigoryev article headlined "EU perplexed by Shanghai contract" comments on the reaction of the West to the Russia-China gas deal; p 8 (386 words).

16. Yury Panyev interview with EU's envoy to Russia Vygaudas Usackas headlined "Russia, EU are hostages to Ukrainian crisis" where he speaks about Russia-EU relations affected by the Ukrainian crisis and the decisive role of the Ukrainian presidential election; p 8 (803 words).

Vedomosti

1. Maxim Tovkaylo et al. report headlined "Total of 200 billion not given to Vneshekonombank" says that the government has given up an idea to increase Vneshekonombank's capital with the help of the National Welfare Fund; pp 1, 5 (600 words).

2. Editorial headlined "Not everyone at home" says that international circulation of scientists, businessmen artists and other qualified professionals is part of the contemporary world and warns against restoration of the iron curtain; pp 1, 6 (500 words).

3. Olga Churakova article headlined "To internet to find separatists" says that senator Andrei Klishas has suggested toughening punishment for public calls for violating Russia's territorial integrity, including those in the internet; p 2 (750 words).

4. Filipp Sterkin article headlined "Central Bank to give money for growth" looks at the program aiming to boost Russia's economy that Putin is to voice at the World International Economic Forum today; p 4 (1,100 words).

5. Editorial headlined "Country of ombudsmen" comments on the initiative to introduce the position of internet ombudsman; p 6 (450 words).

6. Yekaterina Shulma article headlined "Forced to be agents" comments on the State Duma's prompt approval in the first reading of Andrei Lugovoi's bill to allow the Justice Ministry to include NGOs in the registry of "foreign agents"; p 7 (800 words).

7. Lyudmila Koval and Darya Trostnikova article headlined "Plastic surgery" contemplates the consequences of Visa's withdrawal from the Russian market; p 8 (1,200 words).

8. Galina Starinskaya article headlined "Too little space in Russia for Rosneft" says that Rosneft is trying to break Gazprom's monopoly on gas export. It has announced its plans to build gas pipelines in eastern Siberia; p 12 (600 words).

9. Anastasia Golitsyna article headlined "Sputnik to check sources" says that the Rostelecom has launched a state search engine sputnik.ru; p 17 (650 words).

10. Oleg Salmanov article headlined "Chinese turn" looks at how Russia's rapprochement with China may affect Russian IT-industry and the internet; p 17 (450 words).

11. Maria Zheleznova report "Dozhd's candidate" says that the television channel Dozhd's owner Alexander Vinokurov may stand in the Moscow City Duma election; p 2 (400 words).

Rossiiskaya Gazeta

1. Roman Markelov article headlined "Forum" gives highlights of the first day of the World International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg; pp 1, 5 (800 words).

2. Petr Likhomanov interview with well-known Ukrainian political analyst and journalist Dmitry Dzhangirov headlined "Maidan's May landscape" where he speaks about the pre-election situation in Ukraine, the frontrunners and the probable aftermath of the election; pp 1, 8 (1,000 words).

3. Tatyana Zamakhina article headlined "Expecting record-breaking number of contracts" says that the Kremlin expects the economic forum in St. Petersburg to yield at least as many contracts as the previous one; p 2 (600 words).

4. Dmitry Yevlashkov et al. interview with Kyrgyz Prime Minister Joomart Otorbayev headlined "Kyrgyzstan: Choice made" where he says that joining the Customs Union is Kyrgyzstan's economic priority; p 6 (2,000 words).

5. Igor Dunayevsky et al. report headlined "Signal to EU" features experts' comments on the Russia-China gas deal and its effect on Russia-EU relations; p 6 (600 words).

6. Mikhail Falaleyev article headlined "Cannons shoot at own people" says that the Ukrainian military have used artillery against Slovyansk and Luhansk; p 7 (900 words).

7. Petr Likhomanov article headlined "Two oligarchs, two fates" says that Rinat Akhmetov may lose his property in Ukraine after he has openly opposed the leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk people's republic; p 8 (1,000 words).

8. Timofey Borisov report "Commanders should have capsule" says that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has tested a mobile command post at a special exhibition in Moscow dedicated to security; p 4 (700 words).

9. Ilya Gorbunov report "Triumf in hands" says that a new workshop to produce Triumf missile systems has opened in the Northwestern Federal District; p 5 (600 words).

Izvestia

1. Alena Sivkova and Dmitry Runkevich article headlined "Golos to assess election in Kiev with Khodorkovsky's money" says that Mikhail Khodorkovsky will finance sending observers of the Golos organization to monitor the presidential election in Ukraine; pp 1-2 (1,000 words).

2. Ivan Cheberko article headlined "Scientific centers to be given 2 billion to create hypersonic rockets" says that the fund of prospective studies has begun to finance the work to create detonation combustion engines; pp 1-3 (637 words).

3. German Petelin et al. report headlined "Ukraine wants to set free suspect in terrorism case" says that Adam Osmayev, detained in Odessa in 2012 on suspicion of plotting the assassination of Putin, may be released by the Ukrainian authorities; p 6 (1,340 words).

4. Viktor Gorovoi article headlined "Luhansk not to lift martial law until complete victory" says that the self-proclaimed Luhansk region authorities have declared martial law and asked Russia to send its peacekeepers; p 10 (404 words).

5. Alexander Chalenko article headlined "Tyhypko is flexible candidate" says that Ukrainian presidential candidate Serhy Tyhypko has few chances in the upcoming election; p 12 (928 words).

6. Lyudmila Podobedova report "Government postpones privatization of Rosneft" says the presidential aide Andrei Belousov believes that Rosneft is ready for privatization, but this will not happen this year; p 2 (850 words).

Moskovsky Komsomolets

1. Mikhail Rostovsky article headlined "Beijing, gas and Prince Charles" says that the Ukrainian crisis restricts Russia's freedom of actions in all spheres; pp 1, 3 (814 words).

2. Article by head of the CIS Countries Institute Konstantin Zatulin headlined "Ukraine: Election over. Forget about it?" looks at the situation in Ukraine ahead of the presidential election, the stance and motives of the West and contemplates whether Russia should recognize the election as legitimate; p 3 (1,097 words).

3. Igor Karmazin et al. report headlined "Donbass, Luhansk region being mopped up for election" says that the "punitive" operation in Ukraine's southeast is getting more violent as Kiev is trying to force the rebellious regions to take part in the election; p 4 (1,211 words).

RBK Daily

1. Yana Milyukova and Petr Kiryan article headlined "Russia without direction" says that business and industry experts do not understand the economic policy of the Russian authorities. The authorities, for their part, acknowledge that their words do not meet their actions; pp 1, 4 (500 words)

2. Tatyana Aleshkina article headlined "There is nothing like that in any other country" says that Visa and MasterCard do not wish to abide by the government's new regulations and place security deposit with the Russian Central Bank. At the same time, they are not willing to halt their operation in Russia; the authorities do not want them to leave either; pp 1, 7 (650 words).

3. Alexander Artemyev and Stepan Opalev article "Ballot box half full" says that voting in the Ukrainian presidential election is likely to be held at least at the half of Donetsk and Luhansk regions' polling stations. Still, only one-third of voters in the troubled regions are willing to cast their ballots; p 2 (700 words).

4. Zhanna Ulyanova interview with Serhy Pashynsky, head of Oleksandr Turchynov's administration, on the current situation in Ukraine; p 2 (800 words).

5. Tatyana Aleshkina et al. article headlined "Bankers from Russia" says that Russian banks are now replacing Ukrainian banks in Crimea that have withdrawn from the territory. Yury Kovalchuk's Russia bank and the Russian national commercial bank are the first to start operating there; p 6 (450 words).

6. Irina Yuzbekova and Yevgeny Krasnikov article headlined "'Sputnik' wants to make it to top 10" says that Russia's new search engine plans to attract 3 million visitors daily in four years; p 7 (450 words).

Komsomolskaya Pravda

1. Alexander Milkus article "Sincerely yours Sputnik" interviews the press secretary of the new Russian government-controlled search engine, Sputnik, about the project. A sidebar to the article contains comments from industry experts, various public figures, and ordinary readers to the paper; p 3 (400 words).

2. Anastasia Kurdyukova report headlined "Junta needs cannon fodder" says hundreds of contract servicemen from Crimea have now become "hostages" in military units inside Ukraine; p 6 (200 words).

Novaya Gazeta

1. Yulia Polukhina report headlined "Traces of massacre were covered by fire" sums up the paper's investigation into the May 2 events in Odessa, in which dozens of people were killed, based on eyewitness accounts; pp 1, 3-5 (1,100 words)

2. Nadezhda Prusenkova et al. article "Verdict has been handed down. This is not the end." looks at the verdict handed down in the journalist Anna Politkovskaya murder trial; p 2 (1,000 words).

3. Yulia Latynina article "How to shoot oneself from gas pipeline" takes an unflattering look at the Russia-China gas contract signed during President Putin's recent visit to China; p 8 (900 words).

4. Military observer Pavel Felgengauer piece headlined "A window of opportunity has opened" looks at Russia's military strategy in relation to events in Ukraine; p 7 (550 words).

Trud

1. Vasily Sobolev article headlined "Waiting for golden rain" reviews the first day of the World Economic Forum in St. Petersburg and contemplates further developments there; pp 1-2 (700 words).

2. Sergei Frolov article headlined "Ballot for Ukraine" says that the result of the Ukrainian presidential election is known ahead of voting. It is not really clear, though, whether the election will help stop violence. The article is accompanied by pundits' comments; pp 1-2 (1,000 words)

Zavtra

1. Andrei Fefelov interview with Alexander Borodai, who was elected "prime minister of the Donetsk People's Republic" on May 16; p 2 (800 words).

Tvoi Den

1.Anton Stepanov piece headlined "Fascist spawn" claims that near the village of Blahodatne in Donetsk region "Right Sector militants, disguised as militiamen, executed Ukrainian army conscripts who had refused to fire at their own people"; p 2 (250 words).

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