Russia could reduce Radio Liberty's correspondent network

RIA NOVOSTI. August 5, 2005, 8:01 PM

MOSCOW, August 5 (RIA Novosti, Dmitry Panovkin) - The Russian Foreign
Ministry may take measures to reduce the number of correspondents working
for Radio Liberty/ Free Europe after its journalist Andrei Babitsky
interviewed Russia's most wanted terrorist, Shamil Basayev, for U.S.
television network ABC.
A spokesman for the ministry said ABC's assertion that the interview had
been broadcast at Babitsky's initiative was ridiculous.
According to the source, RL/FE used loopholes in Russian legislation in the
sector of information and immense foreign resources to create an extensive
network of freelance correspondents in Russia. The spokesman said this was
prohibited by Russian media laws.
The source said the Foreign Ministry would consider the possibility of
restricting the activity of the radio station's correspondents in Russia.
The ministry accredits a limited number of foreign correspondents, while, he
continued, many of RL/FE freelance correspondents work without
accreditation.
"Now an opportunity to resolve the problem has opened up," the source said