#9 - JRL 7238
TV1 Review
www.1tv.ru
Compiled by Luba Schwartzman ( luba_sch@hotmail.com)
Research Analyst, Center for Defense Information, Moscow office
HEADLINES,
Monday, June 23, 2003
- Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Prince Felipe of Spain, who is in Russia on a four-day visit. In addition to Moscow, Prince Felipe will travel to St. Petersburg and Zvezdny and watch Emergency Ministry training exercises in Noginsk.
- President Putin chaired a meeting of the Cooperation Council, which includes former presidents and prime ministers of various countries. The politicians discussed nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, international terrorism and the drug trade and the regulation of conflicts in the Middle East and other regions.
- President Putin met with the graduates of military academies.
- Preparations for President Putin’s state visit are underway in Great Britain. In Britain, Putin will sign agreements on bilateral relations, energy and utilization of nuclear materials. The Russian President will be a personal guest of Queen Elizabeth II. The royal protocol requires Putin to visit two cities in addition to London. He will travel to Edinburgh and Greenwich.
- Interior Ministry officers prevented a major terrorist act in Grozny. They found 28 bags (1,400 kilograms) of explosives in an abandoned house in the Oktyabrskii region of the Chechen capital.
- A police vehicle hit a landmine in Grozny.
- The Interior Ministry carried out a major sting operation against corrupted law enforcement officers. About 30 officers were suspected of extorting money for closing criminal cases, which were initiated illegally as well. 600 people participated in the operation. About 40 locations were searched. Four people were detained.
- Presidential Plenipotentiary to the Northwestern Federal District Valentina Matvienko has been appointed to the Security Council.
- A new system for keeping track of migrant workers is being introduced. They will receive plastic identification cards with photographs and necessary information.
- Pension Fund Chairman Mikhail Zurabov reported that pensions will be increased to an average of 1750 rubles ($58) a month effective August 1st.
- Over a hundred fishermen held a demonstration in front of the Dalmoreprodukt office, demanding payment of back wages.
- Four people have been hospitalized with typhoid fever in the suburbs of Moscow.
- Legendary actress Gina Lolobrigida, a guest at the 25th International Moscow Film Festival will exhibit her sculptures at the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum.
- In London, Russian parliamentarians won a soccer match against their British colleagues with a score of 3:1
- President Putin conveyed his condolences to the friends and family of outstanding writer Vasil Bykov, who passed away in Belarus.