MOSCOW, June 15 - RAPSI. Chief Russian investigator Alexander Bastrykin has denied that he intimidated a journalist for publishing an article which placed him in an unfavorable light, but has apologized for his "emotional breakdown".

Bastrykin apologized in person to editor-in-chief of newspaper Novaya Gazeta Dmitry Muratov, well-known for his keen investigative journalism.

The head of the Investigative Committee made his apologies after Muratov published an open letter accusing Bastrykin of intimidating his deputy editor at Novaya Gazeta, journalist Sergei Sokolov.

The conflict arose from Sokolov's article which denounced the investigation of the Kushchevskaya killings in rural Russia. In particular, Sokolov highlighted the disproportionally light sentences given to the criminals.

Sokolov later apologized to Bastrykin for his "excessively sharp words." However, Bastrykin did not accept his apology, saying that the journalist had practically accused him of colluding in the crime.

Muratov wrote in an open letter in Novaya Gazeta on Wednesday that Bastrykin invited the newspaper's deputy chief editor for a trip to the North Caucasus. The two men then insulted and abused each other.

When Sokolov returned to Moscow by plane, he was allegedly thrown into a car by guards and taken to a forest in the Moscow region where Bastrykin proceeded to threaten him.

Muratov added that Sokolov left the country for security reasons.

After meeting with Bastrykin, Muratov said that the conflict has been solved and the investigative authorities guaranteed security of the Novaya Gazeta staff.