Vedomosti
Putin explains to Europeans how terrorism should be fought
By fighting terrorism in the North Caucasus, Russia is defending not only itself but also Europe. That was the angle President Vladimir Putin used during his visit to the Netherlands when he urged Europeans to take a look at Russia's Chechnya policy. Experts think, however, that no matter whom the president may be protecting, he should not forget human rights.
Once more, Putin had to answer uncomfortable questions about Russia's human rights record in Chechnya. He reiterated his well-known position on the Chechen issue but worded it more strongly: "We are dealing with very ruthless people, with beasts with a human aspect, those who do not understand the times they live in."
The answer did not satisfy the local press, and Putin was asked why he failed to mention human rights. "Of course, we should use civilized methods," the president said, proceeding to remind the Europeans for whom Russia is waging the war against terrorism. "In the Caucasus and Chechnya, we are defending both our and your interests. If we allow terrorists to rear their heads in one region, they will also do so in another."
Then he criticized the Europeans themselves: representatives of European institutions failed to respond to calls by Russian authorities to observe the elections of the Chechen president and the referendum. However, Putin said, Russia was attentive to European proposals and welcomed EU humanitarian programs in the North Caucasus.
Alexei Makarkin of the Center of Political Technologies said Putin's remarks on Russia's role in the fight against terrorism were right. "Russia has always positioned itself as Europe's shield and is now one of the countries that chronically faces terrorist attacks," the analyst said. "The West, on the other hand, is worried about methods used against terrorists, among whom Russia includes all those who oppose authorities with arms in hand."
Ariel Cohen of the Heritage Foundation agreed, saying a radical Islamic state in the North Caucasus would no doubt threaten Europe. But this does not mean that the fight against terrorism should be waged with glaring human rights violations, he said.
Kommersant
Russian Justice Ministry set to extradite suspected criminals
"Russia has suggested establishing an international arbitration court that would extradite suspected criminals," the country's Justice Minister Yury Chaika told the State Duma. Several countries have refused to extradite several well-known Russians. But Moscow believes the situation would change with a court of arbitration. On November 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the International Court of Justice in The Hague and made similar statements. But experts think it unlikely that Moscow will translate these ideas into reality.
"The Justice Ministry has suggested creating an arbitration court system," a diplomat, who wished to remain anonymous, said. If one country refused to extradite a suspect to another country, then both countries would delegate one arbiter each. Both arbiters would name a third arbiter, who would then decide whether there was any sufficient legal grounds for extradition. The arbiter would not rule whether the suspect was guilty or not. At present, there are plans to set up this type of arbitration court under the auspices of the Council of Europe.
As expected, all aspects of the Justice Ministry's initiative must be analyzed, even if other countries voice support. For instance, the new court of arbitration might rescind a national court verdict. Consequently, experts should decide in advance whether this contradicts the separation of powers. Moreover, the concerned parties have not yet decided on future relations between this new legal body and the European Court of Human Rights. Currently, any person who is to be extradited can appeal this verdict in the European Court of Human Rights. That is why the diplomat believes Chaika's proposals would, at best, be implemented in late 2006.
Experts are divided on the Justice Ministry's initiative. "No country would extradite a person facing capital punishment or political persecution back home," Pavel Krasheninnikov, chairman of the State Duma's legislative committee, said.
Professor Igor Lukashov, head, Center of International Law Studies, Institute of State and Law (Russian Academy of Sciences), thinks this is a good idea. "But we should find out whether this legal body would adopt binding decisions or recommendations," Lukashov added. He fears that "only Tajikistan and Belarus would join a new Russian-backed international convention."
Gazeta
Pro-Kremlin youth to replace independent observers at elections
Activists of the pro-presidential youth movement "Nashi" (Ours), with support from the presidential administration and the Central Election Commission, will monitor all major elections in the country, including presidential and parliamentary. The movement's leaders are positive that this is the way to try to prevent "an orange scenario." But opposition leaders say Nashi will sanction vote manipulation.
Vasily Yakemenko, a Nashi leader, says the movement's 3,500 observers will monitor all 122 polling stations in Moscow's 35 constituencies during the city's parliamentary elections December 4.
Young people loyal to the authorities will replace the independent and international observers that have actually been abolished in Russia because, in compliance with federal law, only observers from registered candidates can be present at polling stations.
"We would like to act as independent observers, but the law does not allow us," said Roman Pyrma, who heads the "Our Elections" program and will coordinate the activities of young observers in the upcoming elections. "We are in talks with some non-opposition parties and, most probably, it will be United Russia."
Yakemenko said the idea had been approved by the Kremlin, mentioning the name of deputy head of the presidential administration Vladislav Surkov.
Leading experts of the Moscow State Judicial Academy and the judicial department of Moscow State University have already begun lecturing future observers on election legislation. On November 9, the head of the Central Election Commission, Alexander Veshnyakov, will give a lecture on civil control at elections.
Sergei Mitrokhin, deputy chairman of the opposition Yabloko party, said, "These Red Guards are meant to legalize possible manipulations with vote counting." He believes that there is only one way out - to unite efforts. SPS, Yabloko, and KPRF have already begun a joint training program for their own observers who will also try to monitor all polling stations in Moscow, he said.
Biznes
Russian regions fight for natural resources
Yesterday a new version of the law "On Subsoil Use," prepared for a first reading in parliament, was unexpectedly removed from the agenda with an opaque explanation about it needing "serious changes." Officially, it should outline a clearer definition of strategic fields that cannot be sold. Yet experts believe that the delay is related to the demand by regions that they preserve their right to develop fields along with the federal government.
Prepared by the Natural Resources Ministry, the bill radically changes the practices of subsoil use. Its most controversial provision was the demand to deny regions the right to develop fields in partnership with the federal center. Some members of the Federation Council have demanded that the lower house not adopt the bill under any circumstances. They insisted on expanding regional powers in the document.
The government firmly opposed the proposal, and on Monday, the United Russia faction in parliament announced its support of the ministry's bill. Yesterday, however, Minister Trutnev sent them a letter proposing to put off the discussion. Andrei Loginov, the government's representative in the State Duma, explained that the bill had "irresolvable conceptual contradictions that should be removed before the first reading."
As Biznes has learned, the decision was made the day before yesterday's State Duma plenary session at a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Minister Yuri Trutnev.
Some experts, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the Kremlin decided to postpone the bill because it did not want to aggravate relations with the regions or annoy local elites. They believe a compromise can be reached: owners of fields may be selected in two stages. Firstly, bidders will take part in a tender and then the winners will be admitted to an auction.
Dmitry Mangilev, analyst with Prospekt investment, said the issue was so crucial that the government was unlikely to make concessions.
Izvestia
What will Russians celebrate on November 4?
On November 4, the people of Russia will be celebrating National Unity Day for the first time. The State Duma instituted this holiday to commemorate November 4, 1612, when a volunteer corps commanded by prosperous Nizhny Novgorod merchant Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky expelled Polish invaders from the Moscow Kremlin. This ended the Time of Troubles, official historians say. The holiday's ideologues believe it should remind all Russians, regardless of their social, ethnic, or religious affiliations, that they are a common nation with a common history and future. Moreover, the State Duma wanted to downplay the significance of November 7, previously the main Soviet holiday. Russian citizens still associate November 7 with the so-called Great October Socialist Revolution that took place on October 25, 1917. Below, prominent Russian personalities offer their comments.
Andrei Sakharov, director, History Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences:
We are celebrating a day of moral liberation and the end of the Time of Troubles. That was an outstanding event in our history.
Reverend Vladimir Vigilyansky, head of the Moscow Patriarchate's press service:
We are still dreaming about a civil society today. However, a genuine civil society emerged during the defense of our homeland. What is important is that civil society was not imposed on us from above.
Gennady Zyuganov, Chairman of the Russian Communist Party's Central Committee:
Russia celebrates the Day of Our Lady of Kazan every November 4. However, Minin and Pozharsky liberated Moscow on November 7-8, 1612. I bow before those courageous people, who helped liberate our country. But November 7 is a holy day for us in the context of the socialist revolution.
Dmitry Oreshkin, head of the Merkator think tank:
It is strange to celebrate national unity, which should be an established fact. Otherwise, we are merely pretending that national unity exists. In my opinion, this strange holiday shows that we lack unity.
The Levada Sociological Center recently conducted a public opinion poll, in which 51% of respondents said they did not know the new holiday's name. Nearly 40% of those polled by VTsIOM said they would continue to celebrate November 7 as before. Another 33% said they consider the November 7 socialist revolution the most important event in national history.
