POLITICS
Russia President Dmitry Medvedev backed tougher checks on the income declarations of government officials, called for stronger anti-corruption measures in state procurements, and introduced new rules for implementing his orders
(The Moscow Times, Kommersant)
Vladimir Churov, the incumbent head of the Central Elections Commission who has steadfastly stood by poll results condemned by the opposition and independent monitors as unfair, was re-elected to a five-year term in a one-horse race
(The Moscow Times, Kommersant)
President Dmitry Medvedev met with a group of Russian rescuers who helped Japan to deal with consequences of the recent devastating earthquake and tsunami
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
ECONOMY BUSINESS
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is set to hear a report from economic scientists and experts concerning amendments to Russia’s economic policy until 2020
(Vedomosti)
The conflict over control of Bank of Moscow between its management and Russia’s second largest bank VTB took a a new turn on Monday after the bank’s board of directors planned to fire its Chairman and VTB head Andrei Kostin
(Vedomosti, Kommersant)
WORLD
Highly radioactive water was found for the first time outside one of the reactor buildings of Japan’s quake-hit Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant and radiation has also been detected in the air and sea
(Kommersant)
Political scientists believe that the trial over Ukraine’s former president Leonid Kuchma, accused of involvement in 2000 murder of investigative journalist Georgy Gongadze, might involve interests of other high-ranking Ukrainian politicians, while the initiators of the trial may even come from abroad
(Nezavisimaya Gazeta)
SOCIETY
Russia’s population is shrinking, women still outnumber men by millions, and villagers are abandoning their homesteads to move to urban areas, according to preliminary census results
(The Moscow Times, Nezavisimaya Gazeta)
COURT LAW
Natalya Vasilyeva, an aide to the Moscow judge who imposed a jail sentence on former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky, wrote her letter of resignation
(Nezavisimaya Gazeta, the Moscow Times)
REAL ESTATE
The transfer of government officials’ flights to Sheremetyevo Airport next month while runway repairs are underway at Vnukovo is having a negative impact on real estate in the area of Leningradskoye Shosse, Penny Lane Realty analysts noted
(The Moscow Times)
MEDIA
Legendary perestroika mouthpiece Moskovskiye Novosti re-launched for the second time in its history, though its editor acknowledged that it would not be as critical of the authorities as it was in its heyday
(The Moscow Times)
MOSCOW
Two of Moscow’s main airports, Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo, are to be merged and sold as part of the country’s privatization program, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said
(Kommersant, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
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