24.07 Russian Press at a Glance, Wednesday, July 24, 2013
POLITICS
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych will discuss gas supplies and the future of Ukraine's gas transit system when Putin arrives in Kiev for Kievan Rus Baptism anniversary celebrations later this week.
(Izvestiya)
Acting Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin would decisively win themayoral race if voting took place this Sunday, apoll ofMoscow residents conducted bythe VTsIOM research center has found.
(RBC Daily, The Moscow Times)
President Vladimir Putin congratulated Britain's Queen Elizabeth II onthe birth ofher great-grandson andwished good health tothe newborn, theDuchess ofCambridge andall themembers ofthe royal family.
(The Moscow Times)
ECONOMICS & BUSINESS
Russias Federal Tax Service collected 0.5 percent less revenue for the countrys consolidated budget in the first half of 2013 than in the same period last year, the services head Mikhail Mishustin told President Vladimir Putin. The shortage is attributed to an economic slowdown and completion of large-scale investment projects.
(Kommersant)
TheTrade and Industry Ministry wants toincrease theshare oflocally made children's products onthe domestic market from20 percent in2012 to45 percent by2020, Deputy Minister Viktor Yevtukhov said.
(The Moscow Times)
Germany's Volkswagen has held its place as Russia's biggest carmaker by revenue for the second year in a row, surpassing domestic auto-giant AvtoVAZ, thanks to its local production in Kaluga.
(RBC Daily)
RUSSIA
The first thirteen businessmen have been set free in Russia as part of an economic amnesty for white-collar criminals that came into effect earlier this month, business ombudsmen Boris Titov said.
(Vedomosti, Kommersant)
CRIME
Two more criminal cases have been opened as part of the wider investigation into the sale of state land at below market prices by Defense Ministry property services company Oboronservis. Though former Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov was dismissed by President Vladimir Putin last November when reports of fraud and embezzlement first came to light, there have as yet been few high-profile convictions in a case that investigators say cost the state budget $237 million. Serdyukov was once again questioned Tuesday about the case.
(Moskovsky Komsomolets, RBC Daily, The Moscow Times)
SOCIETY
Acting Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has proposed that migrant workers who commit serious traffic violations twice in a year be deported. His initiative follows a traffic accident involving an Armenian bus driver last week in which 18 people died.
(Kommersant)
Entrepreneurs will have to pay 150,000 rubles ($4,640) fine for selling cigarettes to underage people and 100,000 rubles ($3,100) if they allow smoking in an area or site where they conduct their activity, if a new bill developed by the Health Ministry is adopted. Individuals will have to pay 1,500 rubles ($46) for smoking where it is prohibited.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
A Jewish doctor in the Russian Republic of Karelia has been punished for refusing to treat a pregant Muslim woman.
(Moskovsky Komsomolets)
DEFENSE
The Audit Chamber checked the use of budget funds in a federal target program to dispose of munitions in 2011-2020. The check revealed contracts were concluded behind schedule and sometimes illegally.
(Kommersant)
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