Oscar nomination scandal over, Mikhalkov's film to bid.

MOSCOW, September 23 (Itar-Tass) -- The scandal over the nomination of
Nukita Mikhalkov's film for Oscar prize was over on Thursday as the
Russian Oscar committee finally decided his "Burnt by the Sun-2. Citadel"
would bid.
"Tonight we held an urgent meeting of the Presidium of the Academy and
finally resolved all the issues. I can definitely say that Mikhalkov's
film will represent Russia in the best foreign language film nomination,"
Vladimir Naumov, president of the National Academy of Cinema Art and
Science and member of the Russian Oscar commission told Tass.
The scandal erupted after president of the Oscar commission and
distinguished film director Vladimir Menshov refused to sign the decision
to nominate Mikhalkov's film and blamed committee members for being too
affiliated with Mikhalkov. However Menshov admitted the decision to
nominate Burnt by the Sun-2 would hardly be revised.
Naumov said "even the chairman of the committee has no right to cancel
the decision." His refusal to sign the protocol "damaged both the Russian
cinematographer and the image of the whole country," he said.
Menshov said if Mikhalkov's film wins the Oscar "then we shall admit
how wrong we were."