"ABC News no longer has any regularly accredited correspondents in Moscow," confided a Russian government source to NewsMax.
For the first time since the U.S. television networks originally opened Moscow bureaus in the early 1960s, one of the majors has been forced to pack its bags.
In an unprecedented move, the Russian government has officially closed down ABC News operations in Moscow.
The departure, which sources say dates back to January, 2006, ended months of negotiations between ABC News President David Westin and senior staff members of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Putin was reported to have been "incensed" at a Ted Koppel "Nightline" interview with Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev last July. (
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Putin had repeatedly called Basayev public enemy No. 1, and Basayev has been dubbed Russia's Osama bin Laden.
Basayev has figured in numerous terrorist attacks, including several in Moscow, killing or wounding hundreds of women and children.
Koppel's personal attempts to provide Putin with equal time on the ABC TV network were brushed aside by Russian officials as "too little, too late."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had referred to ABC personnel unofficially as "persona non grata."
Besides being "annoyed" with Koppel, members of Putin's staff expressed "frustration" in their dealings with Westin.
"He [Westin] needs to first apologize to the Russian people, then resign," said a senior Putin staffer.
It was unclear just how far the Russians were willing to go when the "conflict" erupted in August 2005.
With positions so far apart, it was not surprising that the Putin administration eventually carried through on its threats.
What is surprising is the lack of support for ABC News from officials at the other Western networks.
NBC, CBS, Fox, CNN, and BBC all continue to conduct business as usual.
(Look for similar "reasons" to be used to eliminate their presences in the near future.)
Not only has ABC stood alone, the White House, say State Department sources, would not intervene because the issue "is between ABC and the Russian government."
With no presence in Moscow, ABC relies on bureaus in Germany and London for coverage, using material gathered by Associated Press TV.
It neither has access to any original material, nor does it have any independent access to Russian officials.
It has become a sort of "non-entity," claims one Russian official. All of this coming as the ratings between the three broadcast networks continues to tighten.
It also puts David Westin and Co. in a serious bind as he tries to cope with the insertion of Charlie Gibson into World News Tonight and a revitalized CBS News priming to welcome Katie Couric in September.
But all is not lost.
ABC has been granted special temporary visas to cover the G-8 Summit later this month in St. Petersburg.
"But after [the summit] is over, [ABC news personnel] all must again leave," professed the exasperated Russian official.
Russia Boots ABC News
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