11 June 2004 20:49
Moscow press review for June 11, 2004 (Update)
MOSCOW. June 11 (Interfax) - The following is a digest of Moscow newspapers published on June 11. Interfax does not
accept liability for information in these stories. POLITICS & ECONOMICS
Thousands of federal government officials have not been paid for months despite a substantial wage increase in April,
because of Russia's administrative reforms. The Finance Ministry refuses to finance new government agencies until
the old ones are eliminated (Vedomosti, p. A1; Vremya Novostei, p. 1).
Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin on Thursday unexpectedly
appointed the former executive chairman of the National
As many as a million demonstrators across Russia took to the streets Thursday to protest government plans to replace
benefits in kind with cash payments, and to demand higher salaries for public sector employees (Vedomosti, p. A3;
Kommersant, p. 8; Moscow Times, p. 1; Vremya Novostei, p. 3).
Aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska said Russian electricity
monopoly Unified Energy System should not be broken up into
Association of Stock Market Participants (NAUFOR), Alexei Savatyugin as head of the ministry's financial policy
department (Vedomosti, B5; Kommersant, p. 14; Vremya Novostei, p.7).
A Moscow court on Thursday acquitted all six defendants in the 1994 murder of investigative journalist Dmitry
Kholodov, citing lack of evidence. Kholodov, a report with Moskovsky Komsomolets, investigated military corruption
(Izvestia, p. 1, Kommersant, p. 1; Moscow Times, p. 3; Vremya Novostei, p. 1). OIL & GAS
Interview: Boris Jordan, head of the Sputnik investment fund (Kommersant, p. 1). UTILITIES
separate generating companies, but that its power grid should be spun off to give independent generators equal access
to infrastructure (Vedomosti, p. B1; Moscow Times, p. 7). BANKING, FINANCE & INSURANCE
Mandatory third-party liability motor vehicle insurance has gained popularity among Russians, 52% of whom now think
it is necessary, according to a new survey that has surprised even insurers (Vedomosti, p. B1).
The Central Bank of Russia on Thursday took the first real steps to tackle the crisis on the interbank lending market
by expanding the list of paper it accepts as collateral for credit. In addition, CBR first deputy chairman Andrei Kozlov
promised bankers that contributions to the required reserves fund would be lowered (Kommersant, p. 13).
sold its eponymous airline to the co-owner of cargo airline
Tesis, Alexei Kuimov, who has now gained a monopoly on air
Akademkhimbank intends to file criminal charges against the former head of its economic security service, whom it
accuses of causing the bank $3 million in damages (Vedomosti, p. A1). RETAIL & CONSUMER MARKET
Russian retailers are taking advantage of the Euro 2004 soccer championships to market their brands. Some are
offering cash prizes of up to $1 million to the Russian team, while others plan to air games and hand out trips to
Portugal (Vedomosti, p. A1). TRANSPORTATION
The East Line group, which runs Moscow's Domodedovo airport,
freight from China (Vedomosti, p. B1; Kommersant, p. 16). [RU ASIA EUROPE EEU EMRG PRESS AIR RET BNK CRIM REGS DBT
INS CRU ELG MET POL] vp kg
[Interfax] |
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