Russia: U.S. TV Net 'Undesirable'

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday it will not renew the accreditation of ABC-TV after it broadcast an interview with a notorious Chechen warlord.

In a statement, the ministry said the American television channel would be considered "undesirable" for contacts with all Russian state agencies as a result of interview with Shamil Basayev, which was broadcast Thursday.

"Today, I have given the order to the head of the press service that not one serviceman of the Defense Ministry should have contact with the American television channel ABC," Ivanov said Sunday on state television, according to a Moscow Times editorial. "We will continue to act openly with the press, but this channel will not be invited to the Defense Ministry and no interviews will ever be given to it."

The ministry called the broadcast a "clear fact supporting the propaganda of terrorism."

As a result, the ministry said the decision was made "not to renew the accreditations of employees of this television company after they expire."

The Foreign Ministry is the main government agency authorizing foreign media outlets to work in Russia and the decision effectively bars ABC from working here.

On Friday, the Foreign Ministry summoned a top U.S. diplomat to protest the interview with Basayev, who has claimed responsibility for some of Russia's most terrifying terrorist attacks. Basayev has claimed responsibility for organizing last year's Beslan school siege that ended in the deaths of more than 330 children and adults.

In the interview conducted by Russian journalist Andrei Babitsky, Basayev, who has a $10 million bounty on his head, said he was plotting more attacks.

The editorial in the Moscow Times also said: "Ivanov's harsh response should have little effect on ABC. While Ivanov has recently taken steps to open up his ministry, its officials remain notoriously tight-lipped with reporters, especially those who are foreigners."