#3
ORT Review
www.ortv.ru
Compiled by Luba Schwartzman (luba7@bu.edu)
Research fellow at the Institute for the Study of Conflict, Ideology and Policy
at Boston University
HEADLINES,
Monday, October 29, 2001
- Reports that Gazprom head Aleksei Miller will quit his job have been refuted by many sources, including the presidential apparat. According to Gazprom representatives, Miller recently cancelled several meetings because he not feeling well, but plans to return to work before the end of the week.
- The Abkhaz government has announced that Ruslan Gelaev's division has been destroyed by air raids. There is no information on the fate of Gelaev himself.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin chaired two meetings on Russian domestic policy -- one with the cabinet and the other with his federal district plenipotentiaries. In particular, he discussed the 2002 budget and tactical preparations for the winter.
- The area around the Moscow's Mariott Hotel, where the Davos World Economic Forum began today, was blocked off by the police to prevent protests by anti-globalists.
- On-board recording devices have been taken off the Kursk nuclear submarine. They may help clear up the mystery surrounding the sinking of the Kursk. Also, three of the twenty-two Granite guided missiles have been successfully removed.
- A theatrical adaptation of Bulgakov's Master and Margarita premiers in the Mossovet theater. Director Roman Viktiuk decided to make this staging -- his fourth -- a present for his 65th birthday.
- New arguments have come up concerning reforms to Russia's military-industrial complex. The main directions of these reforms will be discussed at tomorrow's meeting of the presidium of the State Council and the Security Council.
- In response to recent contacts between Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov and Presidential Plenipotentiary to the Southern Federal District Viktor Kazantsev, Presidential Spokesman on Chechnya Sergei Yastrzhembsky announced that parallels with the 1996 Khasavyurt Accords are inappropriate, and that the government does not plan on negotiating with the rebels.
- Local authorities in the Maritime region have clashed yet again with representatives of energy providers concerning electricity black-outs. Police units have been posted to keep Dalenergo from shutting off power.
- Renown film director Georgii Chukhrai passed away yesterday morning at the age of 80. His works included "Ballada o Soldate" [Ballad of a Soldier] and "Sorok Pervyi" ['41].
- Russia's role in the world economy was discussed at the meeting of the Consultative Council on Foreign Investment. In his opening speech, Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov announced that Russia depends less and less on outside economic factors. He also noted the importance of Russian entry into the World Trade Organization.
- Another assassination attempt against a Chechen government official took place. On the outskirts of Argun, unidentified shooters ambushed the car of Yan Sergunin, the head of the republic's administration. There were no casualties.
- Yegor Stroyev has won his third gubernatorial election in the Orlov oblast. He received over 90% of the votes -- an impressive figure, though less than the 94% he got four years ago.
- President Putin will meet today with his Macedonian counterpart, Boris Traikovsky. This is their third meeting this year. In particular, the presidents will discuss the situation in the Balkans.
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