To the article author: Also, since you have this Russian person's contact, wouldn't it have made sense for you, as a journalist, to contact them and request to hear what they have to say so that you could then write an article about it, including your own thoughts if you feel they're needed... Instead of writing an article that seemingly says nothing other than 'look at me, I've had contact with this person and that makes me special. Glorify me'?

The article seems to be missing a point, a purpose, and a conclusion, and also seems to have missed the seemingly obvious opportunity to investigate a story. It's like reporting on not reporting.