Press Review

IZVESTIA (28/4/2004)

State Duma deputy Viktor Gerashchenko has agreed to join the Yukos Board of Directors, and if his candidature is approved he may become its Chairman. The story comments on the proposal made to Gerashchenko, focusing on the company' s deteriorating financial status (1, 2, Kommersant, 1, 13, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 1, 2, Gazeta (interview) , 1, 9, Noviye Izvestia, 3, Vremya Novostei, 1, 7, Nezavisimaya Gazeta (interview) , 1, 3, Trud, 1, Komsomolskaya Pravda, 4, MK, 2)

Breakthrough in medicine. Ukrainian surgeons have used electrical welding to " weld" human tissues. The story describes the new method, saying how Russian specialists regard it. (1, 3)

Mayor Yury Luzhkov, his Press-Secretary Sergei Tsoi and Moscow chief architect Alexander Kuzmin have gone on an astronauts' diet to lose weight. The story describes the diet. (1, 6)

Political observer Mikhail Leontyev shares his view on Mikhail Khodorkovsky' s essay " The Crisis of Liberalism in Russia" , explaining why he disagrees with some of his conclusions. (1, 7)

The administration of the Moscow South-Western Administrative District and Mayor Yury Luzhkov have come out against the re-opening of the Transvaal Water Park (TWP) on May 1. The administration and the Regional Administrative-Technical Inspectorate on April 26 handed in to the TWP managers a special document banning its opening. The story examines the controversial situation around Transvaal. (2, Kommersant, 8, Noviye Izvestia, 6, Gazeta, 1, 3, Vremya Novostei, 1, 3, Argumenty i Fakty, No. 17 (Moskva Supplement) , p. 1, Komsomolskaya Pravda, 1-3, MK, 2)

The Moscow City Court on Tuesday delivered a verdict to the accomplices of terrorists in the Dubrovka theater and to the organizers of the terrorist blast at the Restaurant McDonald' s in the south-west of Moscow. The story gives the names of all convicted persons, commenting on the court' s ruling. (2, Kommersant, 1, 4) Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 2, Noviye Izvestia, 6, Vremya Novostei, 1, Gazeta, 3, Komsomolskaya Pravda, 6, )

The story examines the International Amnesty' s report on female victims of family violence. As many as 14, 000 women are annually killed in Russia by their husbands or relatives. (2, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 2)

Russian and European diplomats at a session of the Permanent Council on the Partnership of the European Union and Russia (or SPS) in Luxembourg on Tuesday endorsed the Protocol on spreading SPS to 10 new EU members. The story examines the document' s major provisions. (3, Kommersant, 15, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 9, Gazeta, 2, Vremya Novostei, 2)

Georgian and Abkhazian diplomats in the building of the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow on Tuesday resumed negotiations with the aim of resolving the bilateral conflict. The story looks at their outcome. (3)

The State Council Presidium today is expected to conduct a visiting session in Salekhard devoted to the development of the northern territories. The story reveals the essence of the issue. (3, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 3, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 1, 2)

Nizhny Novgorod Legislative Assembly (LA) deputies have made an unprecedented political move to limit the powers of governor Gennady Khodyrev. At the latest LA session they unanimously voted for depriving the governor of the possibility of independently appointing gvt ministers. . The story comments on this move. (3)

The Jordan authorities on Tuesday reported about a chemical mega terrorist act that they managed to forestall. It could have killed dozens of thousand of people. The story gives details. (4, Kommersant, 9, Rossiisskaya Gazeta, 7, Vremya Novostei, 1, 2, Gazeta, 1, 4)

A powerful blast at an industrial facility (not far from Mytishchi) on Monday left 13 people dead and another 10 seriously injured. The story details the accident. (5, Kommersant, 7, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 10, Vremya Novostei, 2)

The Makhachkala City Court on Tuesday opened a trial over administrators of the boarding-school for deaf children. The school burned at night on April 11 2003. The fire left 28 children dead. The story describes results of the investigation into reasons behind the tragedy. (5, Kommersant, 4)

Moscow police have detained two homeless persons (bomzhi) , who are suspected of committing several killings. The story gives details. (5)

The court trial in Doha over two Russians continued on Tuesday. the brief mentions new developments. (5, Kommersant, 1, 6, Gazeta, 3, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 10, Komsomolskaya Pravda, 8)

The Moscow Security Board of City Hall has drafted a decree on the fate of city moped drivers on city roads. If Mayor Luzhkov approved the document then all scooters in Moscow will receive license plates and will have to take exams in traffic rules. The story examines the draft. (11)

Irina Rukina, Chairwoman of the Economic Policy Commission of the Moscow City Duma, on Tuesday was the first to speak out with the aim of dispelling rumours about the illness and a possible early resignation of Mayor Yury Luzhkov. In the opinion of city deputies, his early resignation would lead to a collapse of the city realty market and to a re-division of Moscow land. The story comments on Rukina' s statement. (11, Kommersant, 3, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 3)

Audit Chamber members have proposed to cancel the return of the VAT tax in exports. Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov has approved the initiative. The story reveals the essence of the proposal. (12)

World Bank chief economist Hans Timmer on Monday stated that Russia would better not compensate the deficit of the US budget through buying up dollars to its gold and currency reserve, but spend these funds on financing projects inside the country or on clearing off its foreign debt ahead of time. The story reveals the essence of his view. (13)

The Provision concerning the Federal Service on Financial Markets that will determine its duties will appear in May. Brief. (13)

The story offers an analysis of the present situation in the domestic auto market that is becoming more effective and expensive. (14)

KOMMERSANT (28/4/2004)

President Putin in the Kremlin on Tuesday presided over a session devoted to domestic cosmonautics. The story examines several serious problems the president focused on. (2, Izvestia, 13)

The SPS Political Council on Tuesday made a statement concerning SPS' s relation to the problems raised during the discussion of the fate of Russian liberalism. The story comments on the statement. (2, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 3, Nezavisimata Gazeta, 2)

Sverdlovsk governor Eduard Rossel has given up his plans to merge the Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk and Kurgan regions. The story looks at his statement at a news conference in Yekaterinburg on Tuesday. (3)

Moscow city authorities on Tuesday allowed the Yabloko party to hold a May Day march. This was the party' s second attempt to get a permission. The story comments on city authorities' decision. (8)

The Belarussian KGB on Tuesday confirmed that on Monday night it detained Mikhail Marinich, former Belarussian Ambassador to several countries and former Foreign Economic Relations Minister. He headed the public organization " Business Initiative and was viewed as a representative of the pro-Russian opposition. The story details his case. (10)

Geeorgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on Tuesday finished the working part of his visit to Ukraine. The story examines results of his visit. (10)

The Moscow gvt has made an unprecedented decision to withdraw as a shareholder from the confectionery holding " United Confectioners" . When doing it Moscow authorities will take with them the packages of shares of enterprises that Moscow invested in the holding in December, 2003. The story comments on the decision(13, 14 )

The RTS Exchange Board of Directors today has to elect Acting President of the Exchange. The story looks at two candidates to the post. (14)

The Central Bank has recalled a license from Moscow Neftegazbank on doing banking operations. The brief points to the reason. (13)

The Rosneft Board of Directors has summed up results of the company' s activity in 2003, when its oil and gas extraction exceeded the figure for 2002. The brief gives figures to illustrate the point. (13, Vremya Novostei, 8)

Influential players of the retail market and several IT companies have founded a new association. The brief gives its long name, pointing to its major tasks. (13)

Rosbank on Tuesday officially announced the departure of Alexei Grigoryev in charge for boosting the retail business after Rosbank shareholders' purchase of OVK Group. The story examines who will monitor the retail trend of the uniting banks. (14)

The Federation Council today is expected to endorse the bill on raising taxes for the oil companies by $2 billion-$3 billion a year Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Shatalov stated on Tuesday that this tendency will continue. The story comments on the Finance Ministry' s further intentions. (15)

The Baltika company on Tuesday announced changes in its marketing policy. The story examines them in detail, focusing on reasons behind them. (16, Gazeta, 11)

VEDOMOSTI (28/4/2004)

OPEC most probably in July will raise oil prices on the world oil market up to $32-$34 per barrel. Analysts believe that they suit Russia in the best possible way, though there is danger for the market. The story examines optimistic prospects. (A1)

The core of the federal department for the first time in Russia' s history is formed according to the party principle: 50 percent of management boards of the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service are headed by Yabloko party members. At their new jobs they will try to put into reality their party' s anti-monopoly platform. (A1)

The Moscow city gvt has unexpectedly changed its mind to form together with Guta Group a confectionery holding. Joining the Board of Directors of the joint venture, bureaucrats found out that Moscow alone has transferred assets to it. The city authorities now are trying to abolish all agreements with Guta and return the assets to the city budget. (A1)

The transition period by import duties to new foreign-made cars after Russia' s accession to the WTO is supposed to be 6-7 years. This was stated by Maxim Medvedkov, head of the Russian delegation for the talks with WTO. Brief. (A1)

The State Council Presidium at a session today will discuss how to boost the economy of the country' s northern regions. A group let by Yakutian President Vyacheslav Shtyrov proposes to reserve 15-20 percent of currency proceeds and the amortization deduction by raw material companies, which then could be spent on production modernization. (A2)

Russia has persuaded the European Union to finalize its duties on defending the rights of ethnic minorities on the whole territory of the European Union. As a matter of facts, this victory of Russian diplomats may have a negative aspect. The story examines it in detail. (A3)

Media tycoon Boris Berezovsky shares his view on Mikhail Khodorkovsky' s 7 proposals he made with the aim to overcome the crisis of the liberal idea in Russia. Boris Berezovsky also notes that Khodorkovsky has ignored a major problem. (A4)

Transkreditbank (TKB) has failed to make it onto the privatization list and has even begun to experience problems with capitalization. All this, however, does not prevent TKB President Yury Kraskovsky from shaping plans to make TKB the bank of the whole transport sector of the country. In an interview reveals his production plans, focusing on urgent problems to be resolved in the near future. (A5)EDOMOSTI. COMPANIES & MARKETS SUPPLEMENhe Kachkanarsky Mining-Enriching Combine (GOK) may soon get a new owner. The present owner of over 80 percent of shares of GOK-- UGMK Holding-- is completing its negotiations with YevrazHolding. Analysts estimate the upcoming deal at no less than $500 million. (B1)

The construction project of a network of Mosmart hypermarkets may soon receive a good financial backing. Structures of the Swiss investment company MST Asset Management have announced their intention to buy shares in companies of ZAO Mosmart, a trading operator of the hypermarkets network under the same name, and Gipertsentr, an owner of realty of this network. The Swiss promise to invest up to $50 million in this business. (B1)

Yukos Financial Director Bryus Mizamor on Tuesday had to calm down the panic on the market that hit investors after warning banks about the company' s possible default. But experts believe that bankruptcy does not threaten Yukos, and at least he will have to quit part of its essets, with Sibneft being the first among them. (B1)

The GAZ Board of Directors decided to increase its charter capital by 19. 87 percent --up to 8. 5 million rubles. The brief says how it intends to do it. (B1)

The Moody' s international rating agency can put on control the ratings of Sibneft with the possibility of lowering due to the decision of the court connected with the freezing of part of Yukos assets. Brief. (B1)

SIBUR and AvtoVAZ intend to launch a joint venture to make auto parts in the Samara region. This is stated in SIBUR' s press release. Brief(B1)

Rosneft this year plans to increase the extraction of oil with condensate by 11. 9 percent --up to 21. 9 million tons. Brief. (B1)

United Heavy Machinnery (OMZ) decided to decline the American standards (US GAAP) of bookkeeping accountancy, and in the future to compile its accounts on the basis of the IFRS international standards. (B2)

The Gazprom Board of Directors on Tuesday approved the drafts of the company' s financial plan for 2005-2006. This was stated by the company' s press service. The brief looks at its parameters. (B3)

UES intends to sell its 70 percent of shares in the Ren-TV television channel through an open tender. (B)

ROSSIISKAYA GAZETA (28/4/2004)

The birth rate has considerably increased in Moscow lately. Thus, over the first 3 months of this year alone as many as 25, 000 infants appeared in the city, which is by 10 percent more than the figure for 2003. The main problem that city authorities have urgently to decide is an acute shortage of nurseries and kindergartens. The story reports on how the city gvt intends to decide it. (1, 2)

Starting this year, foreigners have been allowed to serve in the Russian Armed Forces. The Foreign Minister' s Order No. 101 concerning the deadline of foreigners' contract -based service in the Russian army gives them 90 days to regulate all their preliminary issues. The story examines why they are given 3 months. (1, 14)

Estonia on the eve of its joining the European Union (EU) on May 1 is fortifying its border with Russia, since now it will be EU' s foreign border. Estonia this year plans to spend about 64 million euros for the purpose. The story describes how it will do it. (2)

The tax reform that started in 1999 will be completed in 2006. The story examines its essential contribution to the improvement of economic conditions in the country. (4)

The so-called shuttle trade business that emerged in the early ' 90s has considerably expanded lately. Experts have estimated that shuttle trade with Turkey alone yields $8 billion a year. But this is so-called grey business, since taxes from it bypass the budget. The story examines the problem, focusing on proposed measures to improve the situation. (5)

NOVIYE IZVESTIA (28/4/2004)

Many violent law offenders are being kept in mental hospitals, which they easily leave for money. The story gives concrete facts from the mental hospital in the Bogdanovo village (Pskov region) . (1, 7)

Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and gvt administration head Dmitry Kozak have many differences concerning the administrative reform. After the May Day holidays they can exchange roles (to be exactly, roles rather than posts) in the newly-formed power vertical. This is evidenced by signals coming from the gvt White House. The story examines them in detail. (1, 3)

Acting Labour and Social Development Minister Alexander Pochinok on Tuesday stated that wages and salaries in the next 3-4 yeas will grow by 21 percent every year (in the nominal expression) . The story comments on his statement, saying how experts regard it. (3)

KRASNAYA ZVEZDA (28/4/2004)

April 28 marks two years since Murat Zyazikov became President of Ingushetia. In an interview he examines results of the social and economic development in his republic. He also speaks about the political and crime situation in Ingushetia. (1, 2)

President Put has set the priority task before Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov -- to provide homeless servicemen with apartments before the year 2015. What is the situation with this problem today? The story gives facts and figures to answer this question. (1)

KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA (28/4/2004)

The beginning of May at the French Auction House " Druo" (Sp. ?) will be Russian, because only artifacts linked up to Russia will be put up at auction, among being poet Alexander Pushkin' s autograph, costing 250, 000 euros. The story describes some other lots. (5)

The story describes a tense situation in and around the Samara City Election Commission, the legally-elected members of which are not allowed to get to their offices in the building of the local City Administration. (5)

The Center for Political Technologies has summed up results of its 20th expert opinion poll aimed at determining the most authoritative regional leaders. The story examines interesting results. (5)

Moscow Education Department head Lyubov Kezina and Mayor Yury Luzhkov on Tuesday reported on what is awaiting school pupil in the near future (6)

The story examines what streets and squares in Moscow on May Day holidays will be closed to traffic due to rallies and festive marches. (7)

Who is who in the Kremlin headquarters? Answers to seven simple questions about the president and his administration. (9)

The feature story is devoted to a special regiment of the Interior Ministry Troops that guards the treasure-houses of the Central Bank and Gokhran. Therefore, the regiment is called the golden one. (10)

The major renovation of Moscow Hotel " Minsk" will begin this fall, and a super-modern hotel-trading complex will emerge in its place by 2006. The story examines the project. (11)

American specialists at a news conference in Washington on April 26 showed to journalists photos of the Mount Ararat that were made by a space satellite. The photos showed something unusual of 183 meters long on the mountain' s slopes at the height of 4, 700 meters, which was made by man. The story describes that unusual thing that has been holding many mysteries up to now. (12)

MOSKOVSKY KOMSOMOLETS (28/4/2004)

Media tycoon Boris Berezovsky was banned from taking part in the 7th Russian Economic Forum, therefore he could seek Russian delegates outside the Forum building. Several leading Russian magnates met with Berezovsky secretly, but, unlike them, SPS former leader Boris Nemtsov met with Berezovsky openly. The story describes their meeting, saying why it was a bad one for Nemtsov. (1, 3)

The Moscow Economic Policy Department reported on Tuesday that Muscovites in early 2005 will have to pay a big tax for privatized apartments for this year. (1)

The entry visa to Latvia, starting May 1, will cost 35 euros rather than 20 today. The brief says why. (2)