Talks broke down today between journalists at Russia's independent NTV television channel and the media chief of the state gas company, which has staged a contested takeover of the network.
Gazprom-Media chief Mr Alfred Kokh, speaking after the meeting of a two-way conciliation commission, said the talks had failed but "it was not our (Gazprom's) fault."
Mr Kokh, whose nomination as chairman of the NTV board is disputed by staff, said NTV journalists had presented him with an ultimatum which included sending a joint message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.