The fourth issue

** President of the Russian Federation and his administration **

President V. Putin at a meeting with members of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Arts Z. Tsereteli , A. Bichukov , A. Kharkin , M. Kurilko-Ryumin , T. Salakhov expressed regret that culture was not among the priority national projects, and promised that the state would pay attention to the development of this sphere. The meeting discussed the preparations for the celebration of the anniversary of the Russian Academy of Arts, as well as the current state of art education in the country.

In an interview with the media of Spain, in connection with the upcoming visit to this country, President V. Putin , in particular, said that

... His influence on the State Duma "is essential", but still it is "greatly exaggerated."

... The upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections in Russia will be a "great test for young Russian democracy and statehood."

... The issue of acquiring “Yuganskneftegaz” through “Baikalfinance group” was decided not in the administrative plane, not in the repressive plane, but in the legal ”.

** Federal Assembly **

A group of State Duma deputies from the United Russia and Rodina factions introduced a bill, which is proposed to increase budget expenses for national defense from 2.69% to 3.5% of GDP. The authors of the bill are the deputies of the United Russia G. Gudkov , N. Kovalev , A. Baskaev , A. Khinstein and deputies from the Rodina faction-ex-minister of defense of I. Rododov and a member of the Security Committee N. Bisborodov . At the same time, Gudkov noted that the government gave a negative opinion on this legislative initiative of deputies.

** Regional news **

In Bryansk, the signing of cooperation agreements between the public organization "Business Russia" , the administration of the Bryansk region and the Bryansk city administration took place. According to the press service of "Business Russia", the agreement was signed by the chairman of the organization B. Titov , the governor of the Bryansk region N. Denin and the head of the administration of Bryansk D. Shapotko . According to B. Titov, a unique methodology for assessing the business environment has been developed in Business Russia: "In Bryansk, we will begin to test it, and the agreements signed today will become a kind of reference point, after which we will watch how the relations of business and power change in the region."

The agreement on the creation of the Nizhny Angara region development corporation was signed on February 6, the governor of the Krasnoyarsk Territory A. Khloponin said. The corporation included the administration of the region, the "basic element", "hydro" and Vnesheconombank. The share of the participation of each side was 25%. According to A. Khloponin, the total investment in the project for the development of the territory will be $ 22 billion. The program includes the completion of the Boguchansky hydroelectric power station, the construction of an aluminum plant, a pulp and paper plant and a number of other investment projects. In the completion of the construction of the Boguchanskaya hydroelectric power station, A. Khloponin indicated that funds were already allocated from the federal budget for the arrangement of the hydraulic flooding zone in the amount of 600 million rubles.

** Companies news **

An informed source reports that the parity participation of Gazprom OJSC in the project of the development of the Kovyktinsky deposit was the main condition for the sale of a share of Sibneft's participation in the joint capital of NGK Slavneft TNK-Br. In addition, according to the source, Rosneft expects to gain full control over Verkhnechonskneftegaz , where the company so far owns only 25% of the shares that it bought from Interros . Rosneft is now discussing the possibility of acquiring a 25%stake in Interros in Rusia-Petroleum for further exchange with TNK-BP for their 62%share of participation in Verkhnechonskneftegaz.

A source close to the shareholders of KamAZ OJSC reports that the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Rosoboronexport appealed to the Federal Property Management Agency with a proposal to transfer to it 34% of KamAZ shares to economic management.

AFK "System" still plans to participate in the privatization of Svyazinvest holding. This was announced by the CEO of the Sitriks concern A. Goncharuk , who, as planned, will take the post of President of the AFK Sistema on February 25. At the same time, he noted that in what form and under what conditions this will be done, it is too early to speak, since at present the conditions for the privatization of the "Svicinvest" have not been determined.

** announcement of tomorrow's events **

The state visit of President V. Putin to Spain will begin at the invitation of King Juan Carlos the First (February 8-9).

A meeting of the Federation Council will be held. Within the framework of the "government hour", the Minister of Education and Science A. Fursenko will inform about the main areas of youth policy in Russia and state measures to implement it. Members of the Chamber will also consider the appointment of a new deputy general prosecutor of the Russian Federation.

A meeting of the State Duma will be held. Within the framework of the "government hour", the Minister of Agriculture A. Gordeev will report state support and increase the investment attractiveness of the industry as part of the implementation of the national project for agriculture.

Will take place

- Press conferences: Chairman of the Commission of the Public Chamber on Regional Development and Local Government of V. Glazychev "Water Code of the Russian Federation. The first examination of the OP of the Russian Federation. The beginning of interaction with the State Duma"; Chairman of the Commission of the Public Chamber on Tolerance and Freedom of Conscience V. Tishkov "Xenophobia and intolerance in the modern world: what to do to Russia?"

- meetings of the commissions of the Public Chamber: on communications, information policy and freedom of speech in the media; on the preservation of cultural and spiritual heritage.

The first expanded meeting of the RSPP with the participation of representatives of "Business Russia", "Rossi of Russia" and members of the Union of Industrial and Entrepreneurial Confederations of Europe will be held. Among the participants are the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of V. Khristenko , the special representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the development of relations with the European Union S. Yastrzhembsky , President of the RSPP A. Shokhin , Vice President of the RSPP V. Veveselberg , chairman of Business Russia B. Titov and others.

The next meeting of the governors of neighboring regions will host in Dudinka - B. Zolotarev (Evenkia), O. Budargin (Taimyr) and A. Khloponin (Krasnoyarsk Territory). Issues will be discussed related to the final association of three constituent entities of the Federation into a single Krasnoyarsk Territory.

** Birthdays **

February 8 were born:

- Gref German Oskarovich (1964), Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation.

- Iskhakov Kamil Shamievich (1949), plenipotentiary representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Far Eastern Federal District.

- Matveev Alexander Safronovich (1943), First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for North and Small Nations.

- Babakov Alexander Mikhailovich (1963), Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee of the FS of the Russian Federation for Energy, Transport and Communications, First Deputy Head of the Rodina faction (People's Patriotic Union).

Read about the further development of events in the next issue of the monitor tomorrow at 10 o’clock.