Russia expels British diplomats in tit-for-tat row
Saturday, 21 July 2007
MOSCOW, July 20 (AFP): Russia expelled four British diplomats Thursday in a row over a high-profile murder inquiry as President Vladimir Putin played down the spat with London as a "mini-crisis" that would be overcome.
Russia also announced a ban on visas for visiting British government officials and the suspension of counter-terrorism cooperation with London, saying it had been provoked by Britain.
But Putin sought to brush aside the row as a "mini-crisis" that would be overcome, calling on Britain to show "common sense" and respect Russia's "legitimate rights and interests."
"I think British-Russian relations will develop normally. We are interested in the development of relations both from the Russian side and from the British," Putin said on the sidelines of an ethnic festival in western Russia.
"I am sure that this mini-crisis will be overcome," he added.
The row erupted after Russia last week refused to extradite the man British police suspect of the poisoning death late last year of former Russian agent and fierce Kremlin critic, Alexander Litvinenko, in London.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Monday ordered the expulsion of four Russian diplomats and announced unspecified visa restrictions on Russian government officials in response to Russia's stance.
On Thursday he described the measures unveiled by Moscow as "completely unjustified" and criticised Russia's refusal to extradite Andrei Lugovoi, a former KGB bodyguard.
Russia had warned that Britain's decision to expel its diplomats would have "the most serious consequences" on Russian- British relations.
Analysts said the dispute was reminiscent of Cold War stand- offs.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday Russia had seen no proof from Britain to support claims that Lugovoi poisoned Litvinenko.
Russia also announced a ban on visas for visiting British government officials and the suspension of counter-terrorism cooperation with London, saying it had been provoked by Britain.
But Putin sought to brush aside the row as a "mini-crisis" that would be overcome, calling on Britain to show "common sense" and respect Russia's "legitimate rights and interests."
"I think British-Russian relations will develop normally. We are interested in the development of relations both from the Russian side and from the British," Putin said on the sidelines of an ethnic festival in western Russia.
"I am sure that this mini-crisis will be overcome," he added.
The row erupted after Russia last week refused to extradite the man British police suspect of the poisoning death late last year of former Russian agent and fierce Kremlin critic, Alexander Litvinenko, in London.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Monday ordered the expulsion of four Russian diplomats and announced unspecified visa restrictions on Russian government officials in response to Russia's stance.
On Thursday he described the measures unveiled by Moscow as "completely unjustified" and criticised Russia's refusal to extradite Andrei Lugovoi, a former KGB bodyguard.
Russia had warned that Britain's decision to expel its diplomats would have "the most serious consequences" on Russian- British relations.
Analysts said the dispute was reminiscent of Cold War stand- offs.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday Russia had seen no proof from Britain to support claims that Lugovoi poisoned Litvinenko.