Intrepid New York Times Russia correspondent (and former Marine!) CJ Chivers was snatched by the KGB this morning! Or was he? Read on for the details of this most insignificant international incident:

Russia! says that the Russian press reported that Chivers was "detained" by the KGB when he tried to enter into the disputed territory of Ossetia, and subsequently sent packin' back to Moscow. Crushing press freedom! International disputes! Editors called from New York, alarmed! Actually, Chivers told them, he and his fixer were just forced to sit around at the border because the border guards' supervisor was "in the shower":

"During this time, the men at the checkpoint gave us pears to eat, and offered seeds, and chatted amiably with us about a range of subjects," Chivers wrote in a late-night email from Georgia...

[After being denied entry,] The Russians and Ossetians gave the two Times journalists a lift back to the Georgian checkpoint, but not before inviting Chivers on a trip to the countryside, "or perhaps for some trout fishing in the mountains."

And that's the story of how and Ossetian border guard's cleanliness regimen unfolded into a tale of intrigue, confusion, and, eventually, heartwarming cross-cultural cooperation. Hey, we're all humans!
[ReadRussia.com; Pic via]