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Russians manage PR fallout from spy fiasco

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By The Drum Team, Editorial

June 30, 2010 | 2 min read

The arrest of ten people in America amidst allegations of Russian spying may pause the ongoing “reset” promised in relations between the US and their traditional foes.

It comes at a time when Russia, under an apparently liberal Medvedev, has sought to harness the nations diplomats to embrace PR to dispel what Putin decries as deliberate campaigns to discredit the country.

This saw Medvedev hook up with Obama in a burger bar, camera crews in tow, to illustrate the burgeoning relationship between the two leaders.

It also comes as Russia promotes its English language news channel, Russia Today, which leaders hope will provide an alternative voice to American and British news providers. Its coverage of the story was relatively straight but it quotes an ex-CIA boss claiming the arrests to be a “PR exercise.”

Thus far Putin has attempted to downplay the incident, telling former President Bill Clinton (who happened to be meeting Putin at the time): “You came to Moscow at a right time. Your police got out of control and grabbed some people."

The reset may be paused for now then but the realities of international diplomacy mean it is likely to blow over soon.

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