TODAY: National mourning of the patriarch continues, Switzerland helps soften Russia-Georgia relations, a hostage siege in Dagestan ends with fatalities, more asset seizures on the horizon, fingers point to FSB in Politkovskaya trial, and Russia joins the talks to persuade North Korea to abandon nuclear weapons.

The Swiss government has announced that its embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia, will officially represent the Russian Federation in diplomatic issues with the local government, as relations between Russia and Georgia have been suspended since Aug. 26.  This announcement, which is unopposed by Tbilisi, is accompanied by signs that the new foreign minister, Grigol Vasadze, is eager to renew ties with Moscow.  Meanwhile, Abkhazia is beginning to show its weariness of the costs of Russian support:  “We have already become a province of Russia,” said a newspaper editor who closed his publication after the recognition.