[free-sklyarov]Russian Press Reaction

[Bill Scannell]

I spent several hours on the 'phone with friends and old colleagues in
Moscow last night.  According to them,  the Skylarov story has either led or
been number two in the news line-up in all Russian papers, radio and TV.

If we're lucky, this will turn into an full-blown international incident.

My Muscovite buddies see three possibilities:

1.  That Putin will use this as a stick to beat on Bush with.
2.  That there will be a quiet diplomatic solution
3.  That the Russians will fully 'cooperate' with the US and launch an
investigation in Russian against Skylarov.

The smart money is on option two.

I have also been asked to write a commentary for the Friday edition of the
Moscow Times.

-Bill

ø

Committing random acts of journalism and PR since 1987

ø