MORE ON KREMLIN’S PARDONING OF CIA SPY.

A Russian presidential administration official confirmed yesterday that the unprecedented granting of a pardon to convicted CIA agent Vladimir Makarov (see yesterday’s Monitor) was carried out at the request of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) with a view toward encouraging other spies for foreign powers to come forward and confess. The pardon is being described in Russia as another example of FSB director Nikolai Kovalev’s "non-traditional methods." Earlier, Kovalev set up a "hot line" designed to encourage Russian spies to reveal themselves. (Itar-Tass, October 9)

Russian Leftists Welcome Kim Jong Il’s Elevation.