MediaMost journalist questioned in Moscow

One of Russia's leading journalists, Yevgeny Kiselyov, has appeared before prosecutors to answer questions related to an investigation into the independent media group, Media-Most.

Mr Kiselyov is head of the company's TV channel, NTV, which has been sharply critical of President Putin.

A spokesman for the prosecutor's office in Moscow said Mr Kiselyov had been summoned as a witness concerning allegations that Media-Most spied on other companies and several government agencies.

The summons comes two days after the state-run gas monopoly, Gazprom, became the station's largest shareholder as part of a deal with Media-Most to repay debts owed to Gazprom's media subsidiary.

The head of Media-Most, Vladimir Gusinsky, who fled abroad earlier this year, has accused the authorities of trying to gain control of the group in order to silence criticism.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service