PRESS DIGEST - Russia - July 9

MOSCOW, July 9 (Reuters) - The following are some of the leading stories in Russia's newspapers on Thursday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

KOMMERSANT

www.kommersant.ru

- Russia's national flag carrier Aeroflot (AFLT.MM) reported on Wednesday a 2008 net profit of $37 million against $313 million in 2007.

- Russia's Evraz Group (HK1q.L) steel producer has announced an issue of convertible bonds worth $600 million and a $300 million share sale in a bid to avert default risks.

- The authorities of the Samara region have declared a state of emergency due to in connection with severe drought which has seriously damaged or destroyed crops.

- Human rights activists protest at the appointment of deputy chief of the president's staff Vladislav Surkov as a human rights and civil society coordinator within the bilateral Russian-American commission.

VEDOMOSTI

www.vedomosti.ru

- Russia's budget deficit can reach 6.5 percent in 2010 and the finance ministry is already looking for ways to bridge the fiscal gap.

- Metalinvest miner, controlled by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, is in talks with creditors over restructuring its $2.2 billion loans, according to banking sources.

- Russia has signed a deal on selling a dozen of T-90 tanks to Turkmenistan which places the former Soviet republic among five leading importers of Russian arms.

- Russia's finance ministry has cut its inflation forecast for this year to 12-12.5 percent from 13 percent, according to Economy Minister Elvira Nabiullina.

- First Deputy head of Russia's central bank Alexei Ulyukayev has warned local commercial banks against raising their interests rates.