PRESS DIGEST - Russia - Aug 11

MOSCOW Aug 11 (Reuters) - The following are some of the leading stories in Russia's newspapers on Tuesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

KOMMERSANT

www.kommersant.ru

- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has introduced amendments to the defence law, which broaden Russian armed forces mission, the paper writes.

- Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan will confirm their goal of joining the World Trade Organisation as a single entity during a meeting of their customs union on Tuesday, the daily reports.

- Altogether 115,483 new cars were sold in Russia in July, market fell by 58 percent compared to July 2008, and 2.6 percent compared to June 2009, the daily writes.

- Russian cinema chains close cinemas in regions due to a 40 percent fall in demand and rising rent prices, the paper says.

VEDOMOSTI

www.vedomosti.ru

- Ukraine's Naftogaz plans to cut spendings on Russian gas by $1.8 billion in 2009. The paper predicts new gas row with Russian gas monopoly Gazprom (GAZP.MM) next January.

- Russia's Health and Social Development Ministry proposes that the unemployment budget for 2010 be cut by 20 percent from 43.7 billion roubles ($1.38 billion), the paper writes.

- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday will hold a meeting on anti-alcoholism policy, the paper says.

GAZETA

www.gzt.ru

- Russian Defence Minister met soldiers mothers commitee last week and explained to them the army reform, the paper reports.

VREMYA NOVOSTEI

www.vremya.ru

- Russia will spend 470 billion roubles ($14.85 billion) in 2010 on army equipment and weapons, the daily says.