Missing Reporter Sought

Police in Crimea have launched an investigation into the disappearance of a well-known Russian television reporter who was looking into an alleged plot by Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk to undermine the authorities in the Russian-dominated peninsula.Andrei Chernov, a spokesman for the Crimean Interior Ministry, confirmed by phone that the crime investigation department had launched the investigation and search for Vladimir Mukusev, who has not been seen since July 6.Viktor Minin, head of the foreign affairs department of the Crimean presidency, said Mukusev had traveled to Simferopol on July 5 to meet with an unidentified man who had promised to show him documents implicating Kravchuk. "The man had written Mukusev a letter saying Kravchuk's team were planning tough measures against Crimea including the implementation of the direct presidential rule," Minin said.He said the letter alleged that Kravchuk's team were planning to find a pretext for this by exploiting disquiet over Crimean plans for more independence from Ukraine and the increased number of shoot-outs in Crimea between local mafia gangs.Minin said he had met with Mukusev on July 6 and seen the letter. He said Mukusev had told him he had an appointment with its author that evening at 10 kilometers along the highway from Simferopol to Sevastopol."Next day at 12 P.M. Mukusev's wife called the police. She said her husband had told her that if he did not call her back the previous night something serious had happened. He didn't call."