06 May 2004 20:56
Moscow press review for May 6, 2004 (update)
MOSCOW. May 6 (Interfax) - The following is a digest of Moscow newspapers published on May 6. Interfax does not
accept liability for information in these stories. POLITICS & ECONOMICS
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili offered Aslan Abashidze safe passage if he resigned and left the country, as
thousands protested in Batumi and called for the Ajarian leader to step down (Moscow Times, p. 1; Kommersant, p. 1;
Vremya Novostei, p. 1).
The Russian economy expanded by 8% in the first quarter of
2004, the strongest growth in three years, the Economic
OIL & GAS
Russia has reportedly asked British police to search the
Despite a falling stock market, business confidence in Russia rose for the second consecutive month in April, with
the MT Business Confidence Index climbing from 28 to 32 (Moscow Times, p. 6).
Development and Trade Ministry reported (Moscow Times, p. 7).
London offices of embattled oil major Yukos (Vremya Novostei, p. 1).
Russian oil production hit a new post-Soviet high in April, topping 9 million barrels per day for the first time in
more than ten years, the Industry and Energy Ministry reported on Wednesday (Moscow Times, p. 5). RETAIL & CONSUMER
MARKET
The State Duma intends to raise excises on all excise goods immediately after the May holidays, including vodka,
gasoline and tobacco. A debate between two camps of tobacco lobbyists could decide whether cheap cigarettes are pushed
out of the market (Vremya Novostei, p. 4). TELECOMMUNICATIONS, MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY
The Finance Ministry submitted a draft law on communications to the government that would revolutionize regulation of
the sector (Kommersant, p. 13). Vedomosti and Izvestia were not available at the time the press review was issued. [RU
ASIA EUROPE EEU EMRG PRESS BEV MCE GG POL STX ENR CRU] vp tc
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