Roughly a year after their first visit, Hamas is back in Moscow. According to Nezavisimaya Gazeta, whereas the March 2006 invitation was extended by President Putin, this time, Hamas leaders (Khalid Mishal and Musa Abu Marzook) have themselves asked to come to Moscow for "consultations". As last time, President Putin has preferred not to meet with the group's representatives, leaving the discussions to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his deputy, Aleksandr Saltanov. Russia is still the only member of the Middle East Quartet that recognizes Hamas as a legitimate party and is thus willing to entertain talks with the group. The purpose, however, is less clear--from both sides. As reported by Vesti, Hamas still adheres to its hard-line approach, while Mishal noted in Moscow that it is "Israel who is occupying Palestinian lands…The Quartet should talk to them, not us." Gazeta notes that there has been no progress on convincing Hamas to free the kidnapped Israeli corporal Gilad Shalit, with Mishal continuing to insist on reciprocation from Israel in "releasing a certain number of Palestinian prisoners." In an interview with Vremya Novostei, Mishal admitted that Shalit was alive and "treated well," but firmly stated that "our positions cannot be bought." Moscow's position may be less principled than that of Hamas. After the Quarter meeting in Berlin last week, according to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lavrov rejected the assertion that the Quarter is conducting "the politics of boycott." Yet this week in Moscow, according to Izvestiya, Lavrov praised the February 8 Mecca Accords between Hamas and Fatah--which still refrained from recognizing Israel--and noted that "[Russia] strives for the international community to support this process… including efforts to help lift the blockade." Today's edition of the liberal Kommersant has a different take on the situation: "In sum, Russia has been unable to demonstrate to the West the purpose of having dialogue with terrorists."