28.05 Russian Press at a Glance, Tuesday, May 28, 2013
POLITICS
The Duma is considering introducing amendments to legislation to ban same-sex couples abroad from adopting Russian foster-children. Two Duma committees are to consider the issue on June 13, after a number of countries including France recently adopted gay marriage legislation
(Izvestia).
The government has sent a draft bill to the State Duma which would give private security organizations the legal right to use physical force. (Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
The Russian economy continues to stagnate and the prospects of recovery in the second half of 2013 remain uncertain. Weak expectations of Russian private investors remain the key factor for dwindling investment and demand.
(Kommersant, Vedomosti)
The Russian state will assume full control over independent natural gas producer Itera as Russia's state-owned top crude producer Rosneft is buying the remaining stake in the company from its founder, Igor Makarov.
(Kommersant)
Russias first ultra high-speed railroad connecting Moscow with the city of Kazan could be built by 2018. A similar railroad project linking Moscow and St. Petersburg has been set aside for the time being, following a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Russian Railroads officials. (Kommersant)
Russian publishing houses, radio and television may soon lose a big chunk of their profits as the government plans to ban advertisement of medicines in the media. Last year, drug companies spent at least 21 billion rubles about ($670 mln) on advertisement in various media.
(Gazeta)
Russian "big three" mobile operator Megafon and Spanish Telefonica S.A. have signed a strategic partnership agreement covering joint procurement of equipment, reciprocal roaming services and the exchange of technical know-how. The alliance is expected to help the companies cut costs when purchasing equipment from suppliers.
(Kommersant)
The government is considering strengthening Russias largest airline Aeroflot by merging it with one of its competitors, possibly Sibir, Transaero or UTair.
(Vedomosti).
Rosbank, French banking giant Societe Generals Russian subsidiary, sacked its CEO Vladimir Golubkov over allegations he took a massive bribe from a businessman.
(Gazeta, RBC Daily).
SOCIETY
The majority of Russians do not believe in effectiveness of a proposed amnesty for fraudulent businessmen and 73 percent are convinced that it is impossible to conduct fair and transparent business in the country, according to surveys carried out by the VTSIOM and Levada Center pollsters. (Kommersant, Novaya Gazeta)
The Russian government estimates 38 out of 86 million working age Russians are employed in the so-called grey sector of the economy. (Vedomosti)
Russian investigators have launched a criminal probe into alleged land sales and construction in St. Petersburg which were authorized by the former Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and his prot?g? Yevgenia Vasileva.
(Izvestia)
Passengers on Moscows subway system might soon be tested for excess alcohol, in a bid to reduce the number of incidents in which drunks need treatment while on the train.
(Izvestia).
A delegation of Russian media visited the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who discussed the Boston bombing suspects, his popularity in his home republic, football refereeing, and how he fantasizes about catching rebel leader Doku Umarov.
(Moskovsky Komsomolets)
DEFENSE
Duma deputies are proposing to allow women to serve as conscripts on a voluntary basis from age 18-27, the same period men currently serve when drafted. Draft amendments to the law on military service have already been sent to the Defense Ministry.
(Izvestia)
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