Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#206 :: Friday, 15 November 2013

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Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#206:: 15 November 2013
E-Mail: davidjohnson@starpower.net
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POLITICS

1. Interfax: Socio-cultural split in Russia can be overcome – Constitution Court Chairman.
2. Interfax: Most Russians see no need to participate in protest rallies – poll.
3. RIA Novosti: Fines for Smoking in Public in Russia Take Effect.
4. RIA Novosti: Putin Vows to Eradicate Corruption Regardless of Rank.
5. Interfax: Asteroids may be colonized, become new means of transportation – experts.
6. New York Times book review: William Grimes, How the Russians Discovered America. ‘Glorious Misadventures,’ a History by Owen Matthews.
7. Moscow Times/BBC Monitoring: What the Papers Say, Nov. 15, 2013.
8. Interfax: Putin reminds officials of ethics of talking to media.
9. Moscow Times: Putin Blasts Officials Over Discussing Disagreement in Public.
10. ITAR-TASS: Putin has no plans to change Constitution – Kremlin.
11. Izvestia: Putin Said Intending To Devote Major Part of Annual Message to Constitutional Reform.
12. Interfax: Constitutional Court chairman opposed to alternation of constitution.
13. Interfax: Shakhrai: even minor adjustment of constitution may open “Pandora’s box” of political instability.
14. Polit.ru: President Putin Accused of Defending Letter of Constitution While Violating Its Spirit.
15. Nezavisimaya Gazeta editorial: Suppression of Political Ambitions – Strategic Mistake of Authorities. Ruling Elite Believes That Question of Succession Can be Resolved by Old Methods.
16. Svobodnaya Pressa: Russian Analysts Debate If Medvedev Criticism of Duma Bill Indicates Serious Conflict with Putin.
17. ITAR-TASS: RUSSIAN PRESS REVIEW. Dmitry Medvedev gets response to his criticism of Russian President’s initiative.
18. Interfax: Kremlin gives former Russian finance minister advisory role. (Kudrin)
19. Interfax: Kudrin: Putin’s tax crimes bill means “major backward step”
20. Interfax: Putin denies that revision of tax legislation would be a clampdown on business.
21. Slon.ru: Pundit Calls Next Year’s Moscow City Duma Elections ‘Waste of Time’ (Oleg Kashin)
22. Moscow Times: Moscow State University Rector Denies Massive Staff Cuts.
23. BBC Monitoring: Jury in Russian journalist’s murder trial dismissed, defence to appeal. (Anna Politkovskaya)
24. Interfax: Pussy Riot’s Tolokonnikova is in Krasnoyarsk penitentiary – watchdog.
25. BBC Monitoring: Russian Supreme Court dismisses appeal by Khodorkovskiy’s defence.
26. Interfax: Moscow perplexed with U.S. demands for review of IOC opinion on Russian gay propaganda law.
27. Interfax: Russia did not violate intl law by banning homosexuality propaganda among minors – children’s ombudsman.
28. BBC Monitoring: Russian state TV correspondent defends anti-gay remarks, says gay people sick.

ECONOMY

29. Kremlin.ru: Meeting of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives Supervisory Board.
30. Interfax: Most approved govt programs inconsistent with Russia’s budget – auditor.
31. Moscow Times: Elizabeth Bagot, Anti-Piracy Law Is Good, Tech Makes It Better.
32. Reuters: Russian nuclear exporter’s foreign hires battle Soviet-style secrecy.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

33. China Daily: Russia continues pivot to Asia-Pacific.
34. The Economist: NATO’s future. Back to basics. The Atlantic alliance wants a new role after Afghanistan. For the time being, it is looking to an old one.
35. www.russiatoday.com: Ego building? NATO erects $1bn HQ as members slash military spending.
36. Interfax: Russians certain of Germans’ friendliness – poll.
37. Reuters: Putin calls Assad to discuss Syrian peace moves.
38. Christian Science Monitor: Fred Weir, Russia opens its arms to Cairo as US-Egypt ties fray.
39. BBC: Russia in the Middle East: Return of the bear.
40. BBC Monitoring: Commentators see no reason to worry over US refusal to buy Russian helicopters.
41. New York Times: Last Shipment of Nuclear Fuel From Russian Bombs Heads to U.S.
42. Interfax: World Russian People’s Congress calls on Poles to stop hating Russians.
43. RIA Novosti: Ukraine Resumes Gas Purchases From Russia ­ Gazprom.
44. www.russiatoday.com: Cold winter ahead for EU, Ukraine over Russian gas war.
45. ITAR-TASS: RUSSIAN PRESS REVIEW. Gazprom and Naftogaz seek to avert new gas crisis.
46. BBC Monitoring: Russian TV discussion programme argues over merits of Ukraine moving toward EU.
47. RFE/RL: Robert Coalson, Ukraine’s Choice: East Or West?

LONG ITEM

48. Outside Magazine: McKenzie Funk, The Sochi Olympics Are a Five-Ring Mess. Determined that Russia will put on the most lavish Winter Games in history, Vladimir Putin has spent $51 billion, quashed environmental critics, and turned one of Europe’s most beautiful natural regions into a construction zone.