Russian Press at a Glance, Friday, December 7, 2012

A brief look at what is in the Russian papers today

POLITICS

The US Senate on Thursday passed the Magnitsky Act, which targets Russian officials deemed by Washington to have violated human rights.
(Vedomosti, The Moscow Times)

Russia will respond to the Magnitsky Act, approved by US legislators, by banning entry to Americans violating human rights, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that those responsible for the murder of a TV journalist in Kabardino-Balkaria will be caught and punished.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)

Open disagreement between Moscow and Washington over human rights and democracy as well as intra-organizational infighting overshadowed high-level talks of Europe's top security watchdog Thursday.
(The Moscow Times)

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

The Russian authorities are planning to start publishing “black lists” of tax dodgers next year in a move to instill basic financial discipline among Russian citizens and companies.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)

DEFENSE

Newly installed Russian Defense Minister Shoigu is looking for ways to reclaim Ministry properties that were sold off under allegedly fraudulent terms during his predecessor's tenure.
(Kommersant)

The swimming facility in the military town of Yasnaya was closed in the 1990s, but after the army pulled out last year, the doors to the sports complex were smashed in, the colorful notice boards were torn down and the empty pool began to fill up with garbage.
(The Moscow Times)

WORLD

At least six people were killed and over 700 injured in clashes between supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and opposition protesters in the capital Cairo. Opposition groups are rallying against Morsi’s recent constitutional declaration, vesting the president with extrajudicial powers.
(Kommersant, Nezavisimaya Gazeta)

Brussels residents plan protests over the weekend demanding to return a traditional Christmas tree on the main square after the municipal authorities banned the fir tree saying it insults people of other faiths.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko threatens forced labor. Vladimir Dodonov wants to flee Belarus for neighboring Russia before it becomes illegal to leave his job at a wood-processing plant.
(The Moscow Times)

Georgia is set to clear over 200 political prisoners in the country and release them from prison by the end of the year.
(Kommersant, Nezavisimaya Gazeta)

SOCIETY

Russian Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov says no major disasters are expected in 2013, but to be on the safe side people should always have “matches, candles and a flashlight.”
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)

CRIME

Kazbek Gekkiyev, a TV host of a local daily news program for state-owned VGTRK broadcasting company, was shot dead late on Wednesday in Nalchik, capital of the Russian republic of Kabardino-Balkaria.
(Kommersant, The Moscow Times)

The family of Ivan Agafonov, who died after being punched by mixed martial arts champion Rasul Mirzayev, on Thursday appealed Mirzayev's conviction on manslaughter charges as too lenient.
(The Moscow Times)

For more details on all the news in Russia today, visit our website at http://en.ria.ru