The Turkmen Foreign Ministry on 30 May issued a statement accusing the Russian media, particularly NTV, of misleading public opinion and defaming Turkmenistan. The statement said the previous day\'s NTV evening news broadcast attempted to damage Turkmen-Russian relations, and complained that the Russian Foreign Ministry and other Russian agencies have failed to take measures to stop such activities. Among the specific complaints in the Turkmen Foreign Ministry statement were the network\'s allowing the sister of imprisoned former Turkmen Foreign Minister Boris Shikhmuradov - whom the statement described as a \"terrorist\" -- to make \"slanderous statements.\" NTV also allegedly distorted facts about a recent visit of OSCE Special Representative for Central Asia Martti Ahtisaari to Ashgabat and broadcast an \"insulting\" interview with State Duma International Affairs Committee Chairman Dmitrii Rogozin about the situation of ethnic Russians in Turkmenistan. The statement asserted that the alleged defamation campaign is motivated by someone irritated by the \"great authority Turkmenistan enjoys in the world community.\" The statement went on to threaten that Turkmenistan reserves the right to \"take the necessary actions in line with the norms of international law\" if the Russian authorities fail to take measures against the broadcasters of objectionable material. (turkmenistan.ru)