PRESS DIGEST - Russia - April 16
MOSCOW, April 16 (Reuters) - The following are some of the leading stories in Russia's newspapers on Thursday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
VEDOMOSTI
www.vedomosti.ru
- The economy is entering a sluggish recession after a long period of stagnation, the daily says commenting on official statistics of Russia's industrial development.
- Russia's rouble strengthened on Wednesday on the eve of President Vladimir Putin's annual call-in show.
- Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of Russia's top natural gas producer Gazprom, has asked the government for money from the National Wealth Fund to modernise its refinery in the Siberian town of Omsk. The project could cost about 11.7 billion roubles ($235 million), the daily says.
KOMMERSANT
www.kommersant.ru
- Swiss-based oil trader Gunvor is selling a 30 percent stake in Kolmar coking coal mining and processing company. Gunvor's former owner Gennady Timchenko will still control 30 percent through his Volga Group, the daily says.
- Russia is lifting from Aug. 1 a special regime for almost one million Ukrainian refugees who were allowed to stay on Russian territory. Ukrainian citizens will have to register with Russia's migration service on regular basis, the daily says.
NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA
www.ng.ru
- President Vladimir Putin's income last year of 7.7 million roubles was almost the smallest compared with his subordinates' salaries, the daily says, commenting on the details of Russian officials' revenues made public on Wednesday.
- Russian agriculture officials are forecasting grain production this year at 100 million tonnes.
- Russian authorities are underestimating the problem with forest fires, which have already hit Siberia and are threatening central regions, according to Greenpeace expert Alexei Yaroshenko. ($1 = 49.6730 roubles) (Reporting By Tatiana Ustinova)
