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August 03, 2005
Russia Threatens to Punish ABC For Interviewing Shamil Basayev
On August 1, 2005, MosNews.Com reported that, "The Russian Foreign Ministry has said it does not intend to deprive the U.S. channel ABC of accreditation" for broadcasting an interview with Chechen resistance fighter Shamil Basayev.
On August 2, 2005, the publication reported that, the "Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday [August 2, 2005] it will not resume accreditation for employees of ABC television company after it expires. The ministry called the company undesirable for contacts with any Russian state organization or agency."
"On July 28," MosNews.Com noted, "ABC broadcast an interview with the Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev who called himself a terrorist and promised to commit more attacks against Russian civilians."
I would think the Russians would want to know what Mr. Basayev was thinking, although they would not necessarily know when he plans to strike or where.
Could it be that they are upset because ABC has been able to find Mr. Basayev and they haven't?
I recalled the same thing with Osama bin Laden. Journalists could always get to him but intelligence agents couldn't. I wonder why?
Posted by Munir Umrani at August 3, 2005 02:03 AM
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