A brief look at what is in the Russian papers today
POLITICS
United Russia State Duma deputy Andrei Isaev said on Tuesday that parliamentarians who met with the new U.S. ambassador to Russia last week should be investigated for ethics violations. (The Moscow Times)
Former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, who has offered to mediate talks between the Kremlin and the opposition, said he did not believe that Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev agreed four years ago to switch jobs in 2012. (The Moscow Times)
Yabloko party founder Grigory Yavlinsky will be banned from the presidential race over high percentage of invalid signatures in his support, the Central Elections Commission said. (Kommersant, Vedomosti, Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
Opposition factions in Russia’s lower house of parliament have introduced a draft statement on a non-confidence vote against Chairman of the Russian Election Committee Vladimir Churov. (Moscow News)
New U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, who has been criticized by Russia’s state-run media and pro-Kremlin movement Nashi for alleged support of the opposition, said Washington needs a strong Russia and the “reset” in bilateral relations will continue regardless of who becomes the new Russian president. (exclusive interview with Kommersant newspaper)
ECONOMY
Russia’s Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) launched over 70 criminal probes into violations of the legislation against oil companies. FAS chief Igor Artemyev said on Tuesday that fines for violations of anti-monopoly laws could increase tenfold if price-fixing practices in the industry continued. (Rosiiskaya Gazeta, Moscow News)
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin approved on Tuesday a long-term program on the development of the national coal industry until 2030. The implementation of the program will allow Russia to increase annual coal production by 100 mln metric tons to 430 mln tons in the next two decades. (Rossiiskaya Gazeta, Moscow News)
Russia’s statistics agency Rosstat is planning to revaluate the country’s GDP by including calculations of real estate rent based on fixed rates. The change could boost Russia's ranking among world economies by nominal GDP. (Vedomosti)
Russia’s largest state-run companies continue to fire top managers responsible for spending. Following the transfer of Transneft’s Mikhail Arustamov from the post of the First Vice President to an advisory position and sacking of Deputy Chairman of the Board Alexander Ananenkov by Gazprom, Rosneft has fired its Vice President Pavel Zabolotsky. (Vedomosti)
DEFENSE
First Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Sukhorukov said on Tuesday the Russian army did not need any more small-arms weapons, and the ministry would not place new orders on the purchase of these weapons in the future. (Moscow News)
WORLD
Russia and Iran signed on Tuesday two important documents on the joint fight against drug-trafficking on the border between the two countries. (Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
SOCIETY
Russia’s lower house of parliament has approved a draft law which bans Russian citizens convicted of extremism from teaching at educational institutions of any level. (Izvestia)
CRIME
Russian Prosecutor General’s Office may soon become the most powerful law enforcement agency in the country gaining the right to investigate and prosecute persons possessing special status or immunity, including judges. (Kommersant)
SECURITY
The Russian Interior Ministry has ordered private security firms to store their weaponry and ammunition at police precincts. (Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
For more details on all the news in Russia today, visit our website at www.en.rian.ru
