on september 23, 2009, abc news ran an investigative piece on "nightline" concerning the "smear campaign" against hatcher, including the interview with ambassador beyrle. during the interview, beyrle stated that hatcher was 100% innocent of any wrongdoing. beyrle had previously awarded hatcher in may 2009 for his success in promoting freedom of religion and human rights in russia, and commented that an element in russia had attacked hatcher to discredit him and his work as well as prevent the two countries from developing closer ties. soldatov further noted that only russian intelligence agents would be interested in smearing hatcher to force his dismissal from russia.