01.11 Russian Press at a Glance, Friday, November 1, 2013
POLITICS
Former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin has become a member of the presidium of the presidential Economic Council in a move that could signal his possible return to the Kremlins service.
(Kommersant)
Experts from the Council of Europe have concluded that Russias recent law on non-governmental organizations does not meet international standards. The European critics of the law said in a report that the definition of political activities and foreign agent criteria contained in the legislation were too vague.
(Kommersant)
Lawmakers from A Just Russia faction in the Russian parliament have drafted legislation that would deem insults against patriotic feelings of Russians as extremism. The draft amendments envisage punishment of up to five years in prison for these offenses.
(Izvestia)
Fugitive former US security contractor Edward Snowden, who was granted temporary asylum in Russia this summer, will start work November 1 in maintaining one of Russias largest websites, according to his lawyer Anatoly Kucherena.
(Izvestia, Komsomolskaya Pravda)
Russias parliament is to consider a new law that would ban foreign workers convicted of crimes from working in Russia in future.
(Nezavisimaya Gazeta)
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Bulgaria and Russia's Gazprom have started construction of the Bulgarian stretch of a pipeline meant to transport Russian natural gas to Europe bypassing Ukraine to ensure safe shipping. Gazprom had to make major concessions, including allowing access to the pipeline by other suppliers, in order to get Bulgarias cooperation on the South Stream project.
(Kommersant)
Some of the biggest investors in infrastructure for the 2014 Winter Games in Russias Sochi resort have demanded tax rebates and restructuring of loans taken out from state lender VEB.
(Vedomosti)
A Moscow court has revoked the license of one of Russias major media outlets, the Rosbalt news agency, over alleged profanity in two videos it had previously posted on its website, including one by punk group Pussy Riot. The case has been interpreted by some as an attack on free speech, while others view it as part of a struggle for control of the business.
(Kommersant, Moskovsky Komsomolets, The Moscow Times, Vedomosti)
Russias central bank is investigating possible insider trading involving shares and futures of the worlds biggest nickel miner, Norilsk Nickel. (Vedomosti)
Interest rates on mortgage loans in Russia have been slowly going down in the past six months. Some banks have dropped rates as low as 10-11 percent during special promotions. The figures, though, are far from the target of 6 percent sought by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
(Vedomosti)
The Moscow authorities are planning to earn some 4.8 billion rubles ($150 mln) by auctioning 39 dilapidated cinemas to investors who will be tasked with turning them into attractive entertainment centers.
(Vedomosti)
On November 4, Russias taxation services will start exchanging with Russian banks data on foreign bank accounts held by Russian citizens. Experts believe the new measure could lead to an increase in fees for banking services.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
WORLD
The US Treasury Department has blacklisted three Russians, including popular crooner Grigory Leps over alleged links with the Brothers Circle, an alleged Eurasian crime syndicate. Leps spokesperson slammed the allegations as absurd and said the singer was surprised by the news.
(Izvestia, Kommersant, Moskovsky Komsomolets, Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
Russia is ready to contribute some $2 million to the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons. The Syrian stockpiles could be destroyed in Albania and Russia is willing to provide transport for delivery of Syrian chemical weapons to that country in addition to a financial contribution.
(Kommersant)
SOCIETY
Only 35 percent of Russians are satisfied with the quality of medical care in the country, Speaker of the Russian Federation Council Valentina Matvienko told fellow lawmakers at a session dedicated to reforms of the Russian health system.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
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