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17/07/2007
Russia issues warning over diplomats' expulsions
The Kremlin has warned Britain that it faces "serious consequences" over the decision to expel four Russian diplomats from the country's embassy in London.
The move came after Russia's refusal to extradite the former KGB agent accused of murdering Alexander Litvinenko in Britain last year.
Mr Litvinenko, another former KGB agent and a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died in a London hospital at the end of last November, after falling ill earlier that month. A large dose of radioactive substance polonium-210 was found in his body.
The substance was later found in a series of locations around the capital.
Prosecutors in Britain wanted Andrei Lugovoi to stand trial in the UK for Mr Litvinenko's murder. However, Russia has refused to extradite Mr Lugovoi, who denies involvement in the murder.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that he would make "no apologies" for the decision to expel the diplomats.
He said: "We believe that there should be co-operation from the Russian authorities in this. We are sad that the co-operation has not been forthcoming. We have therefore had to take the action that we have taken."
Mr Brown continued: "People have got to understand that when a murder is committed on British soil, and when innocent people are put at risk by the method by which that murder is conducted, and when we have had a full police investigation and then we have the Independent Prosecuting Authority demanding that a certain person be arrested for the murder that has taken place and for the damage done to other civilians as a result of that, then we expect authorities in other parts of the world to co-operate with us in bringing that person to justice."
Foreign Secretary David Miliband announced the expulsions on Monday.
A spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry described the move as "provocative" and "immoral" and said that the actions would entail "the most serious consequences for Russia-British relations.
A full statement is expected from Moscow later, but Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko criticised the decision to expel the four diplomats. He said that if Russia expelled four diplomats for every extradition request turned down by Britain that 80 British diplomats would be expelled from Russia.
He also warned that the situation could jeopardise co-operation on security and counter-terrorism measures between Britain and Russia.
(KMcA/JM)
The move came after Russia's refusal to extradite the former KGB agent accused of murdering Alexander Litvinenko in Britain last year.
Mr Litvinenko, another former KGB agent and a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died in a London hospital at the end of last November, after falling ill earlier that month. A large dose of radioactive substance polonium-210 was found in his body.
The substance was later found in a series of locations around the capital.
Prosecutors in Britain wanted Andrei Lugovoi to stand trial in the UK for Mr Litvinenko's murder. However, Russia has refused to extradite Mr Lugovoi, who denies involvement in the murder.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that he would make "no apologies" for the decision to expel the diplomats.
He said: "We believe that there should be co-operation from the Russian authorities in this. We are sad that the co-operation has not been forthcoming. We have therefore had to take the action that we have taken."
Mr Brown continued: "People have got to understand that when a murder is committed on British soil, and when innocent people are put at risk by the method by which that murder is conducted, and when we have had a full police investigation and then we have the Independent Prosecuting Authority demanding that a certain person be arrested for the murder that has taken place and for the damage done to other civilians as a result of that, then we expect authorities in other parts of the world to co-operate with us in bringing that person to justice."
Foreign Secretary David Miliband announced the expulsions on Monday.
A spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry described the move as "provocative" and "immoral" and said that the actions would entail "the most serious consequences for Russia-British relations.
A full statement is expected from Moscow later, but Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko criticised the decision to expel the four diplomats. He said that if Russia expelled four diplomats for every extradition request turned down by Britain that 80 British diplomats would be expelled from Russia.
He also warned that the situation could jeopardise co-operation on security and counter-terrorism measures between Britain and Russia.
(KMcA/JM)
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19 July 2007
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Russia will expel four UK diplomats as the row over their refusal to extradite the man suspected of murdering Alexander Litvinenko. The diplomats will have to leave Russia within ten days and visa applications for British officials are also set to be restricted.
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23 July 2007
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Russian diplomats expelled from UK
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'Russian tycoon murder plot' revealed
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