POLITICS
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with representatives of the country’s fishing organizations, who were demanding free of charge fishing in Russia
(Kommersant, Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
The leader of the Communist Party of Russia, Gennady Zyuganov, said he would pardon former Yukos head Mikhail Khodorkovsky if elected president
(Kommersant)
The United States hopes its new ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, will make serious efforts to further deepen bilateral relations, U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton said at McFaul’s swearing-in ceremony
(Kommersant)
Billionaire United Russia Duma Deputy Andrei Skotch has drafted a bill that would require officials to declare their expenses, although critics have dismissed it as effectively toothless unless Russia ratifies Article 20 of the UN Convention against Corruption
(The Moscow Times)
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Chronic fiscal imbalances, major systemic financial failure and severe income disparity are seen as top risks for the world economy in the next decade, the World Economic Forum (WEF) said in its Global Risks 2012 report
(Vedomosti)
Russia’s flagship airline Aeroflot has recently raised prices for international flights by 60 percent, and by 80 percent for domestic flights
(Vedomosti)
The Moscow brokerage Troika Dialog that was bought by state-owned financial giant Sberbank last year continued its recent hiring spree Wednesday with the appointment of former Renaissance Capital equity strategist Ovanes Oganisian
(The Moscow Times)
OIL & GAS
Ukraine must pay for unused gas ordered under its 2009 contract with Russia despite announcing its intention to cut imports to 27 bln cu m, below its contracted minimum of 33 bln cu.m., Gazprom head Alexei Miller said at a meeting with President Dmitry Medvedev
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
DEFENSE
A Russian-owned ship reportedly carrying ammunition to Syria was allowed to leave Cyprus after giving assurances it would change course
(Kommersant)
WORLD
An Iranian scientist who died in a car bomb explosion in the capital Tehran was the deputy director of the country's largest uranium enrichment plant
(Kommersant)
SOCIETY
Authorities began installing webcams at ballot stations and purchasing see-through ballot boxes Wednesday, following vows by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and elections chief Vladimir Churov to fight fraud in the upcoming presidential vote
(The Moscow Times)
Gevork Vartanyan, the legendary Soviet spy who foiled Nazi Germany's assassination attempt on the leaders of the Allied powers in Tehran in 1943, died in a Moscow hospital Tuesday. He was 88
(The Moscow Times)
RULE OF LAW
A criminal case has been opened into ballot rigging in the Central Russian city of Vladimir where about 6,000 “dead souls” voted in the December 4 parliamentary elections
(Kommersant)
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