TODAY: Medvedev interviewed by Reuters; Moscow court fines businessman over blog entry; Chavez thanks Putin; new report focuses on Russia’s “passion investments”. In an interview with Reuters, reportedly his first with the Western media since taking power in May, President Dmitry Medvedev said that poverty and corruption are the biggest threats to security, and that Russia wants to reduce the state’s role in the economy and curb government spending to combat rising inflation. Reuters has posted clips and excerpts from the interview. The Other Russia is concerned that a Moscow court has “set a precedent” by finding a wealthy Russian businessman guilty of defamation in a blog entry and fining him roughly $1200. The Moscow Times writes on what to expect from next week’s EU-Russia summit, with the EU reportedly seeking a better relationship with the country under Medvedev. One UK journalist says the summit “presents a window of opportunity because, well, Putin won’t be there.”