The Media Mirror – Today's Russian press review

The Russian press looks at the creation of the State Anti-narcotics Committee and the dismissal of Ali Larijani from the post of the Secretary of the National Security Council of Iran. Another topic is Putin and the Constitution: analysts continue the gue

IZVESTIA reports on the creation of the State Anti-Narcotics Committee. It is a coordination centre for all involved government bodies. Victor Cherkesov, the chief of the State Drugs Control Service – the Russian narcotics police – has been appointed Chairman.

NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA says the Committee was created to raise the status of Victor Cherkesov in an effort to stop a war between the narcotics police and Federal Security. A general of the narco police was recently arrested by the FSB. In response Cherkesov published an article in KOMMERSANT saying his subordinate fell victim to infighting in the Russian security community.

KOMMERSANT says, the narco police spokesman denied any connection between the new Committee and the clash of the two services. He says the Presidential order was first drafted in June, long before the clash even started.

KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA: Mikhail Leontyev, the chief editor of the Profile magazine says – the President lifted the status of Cherkesov after his service was attacked by a bigger guy and stopped an unnecessary conflict.

KOMMERSANT comments on the dismissal of Ali Larijani from the post of the Secretary of the National Security Council of Iran. It followed Larijani’s announcement that the Russian President made an undisclosed offer to the Iranian leadership. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said there was no such offer. Meanwhile, Larijani is taking part in the next round of the negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme in the capacity of a personal representative of Ayatollah Khamenei.

KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA quotes Russian experts who say a strike on Iran may become the last “gift” from George Bush to the world before he steps down.

The former U.S. diplomat, John Bolton tells VREMYA NOVOSTEI: U.S. missile defence elements in Europe wouldn’t stop a Russian retaliation strike. They are against North Korea and Iran. He adds that a nuclear-capable Iran is more dangerous for Russia than for the U.S.

In IZVESTIA Vitaly Ivanov writes, Vladimir Putin is going to stay as a national leader. Not as Prime Minister or Chairman of the Security Council. Putin is against any changes in the current Constitutional order. This leaves party leadership or some other public post outside the government. What will be the President’s choice, writes the author, we may know by December.