Four UK diplomats expelled as Russia retaliates
By Matthew Moore and agencies
19/07/2007
The Telegraph
Russia has expelled four British diplomats from Moscow, in tit-for-tat retaliation for the expulsion of four of its own officials by the British earlier this week.
Moscow will also halt co-operation in the war on terror
David Miliband, the British Foreign Secretary, branded the move "completely unjustified" and said the Government would be doing all it could to ensure their families are properly looked after.
Moscow also announced that it would withhold future co-operation with Britain in the war on terror, and stop issuing visas to British officials.
Russia's response had been expected since Mr Miliband announced on Monday that four Russian officials would be expelled from Britain following Moscow's failure to hand over Andrei Lugovoi, the man suspected of murdering Alexander Litvinenko.
Mr Litvinenko, a fierce critic of the Russian regime and a former KGB spy, died in London on Nov 23 from a fatal dose of the extremely rare radioactive isotope polonium 210.
The British ambassador to Moscow was summoned to the foreign ministry this morning to be informed of the expulsions, which were later announced to the Russian media.
Foreign ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin described Russia's response as "targeted, balanced and the minimum necessary."
"The position of the Brown Government is not based on British common sense and reasoning," he said.
Russia's ambassador to Britain, Yuri Fedotov, later reiterated the country would not extradite Mr Lugovoi.
He also said Russia's response to Britain's expulsion of Russian officials was "proportionate, targeted and minimalistic".
A spokesman for Prime Minister Gordon Brown vowed to seek international support for Britain's stance in the dispute .
"We think the action they have taken is completely unjustified and we will continue to take this matter forward with the international community over the next weeks," Michael Ellam said.
While Moscow's response heightens the tensions between the countries, President Vladimir Putin's retaliation is more measured than had been feared in some quarters.
A Scotland Yard investigation has gathered enough evidence to press charges against Mr Lugovoi, another former KGB spy.
But the Russian authorities have refused Britain's extradition request. Mr Lugovoi protests his innocence.
An added twist yesterday saw exiled billionaire and Kremlin opponent Boris Berezovsky claim Mr Putin was behind an attempt to assassinate him.
Relations between London and Moscow are now at their lowest ebb since the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991.
The last time the two countries expelled each other's diplomats was during a row over spying allegations in 1996.
telegraph.co.uk
By Matthew Moore and agencies
19/07/2007
The Telegraph
Russia has expelled four British diplomats from Moscow, in tit-for-tat retaliation for the expulsion of four of its own officials by the British earlier this week.
Moscow will also halt co-operation in the war on terror
David Miliband, the British Foreign Secretary, branded the move "completely unjustified" and said the Government would be doing all it could to ensure their families are properly looked after.
Moscow also announced that it would withhold future co-operation with Britain in the war on terror, and stop issuing visas to British officials.
Russia's response had been expected since Mr Miliband announced on Monday that four Russian officials would be expelled from Britain following Moscow's failure to hand over Andrei Lugovoi, the man suspected of murdering Alexander Litvinenko.
Mr Litvinenko, a fierce critic of the Russian regime and a former KGB spy, died in London on Nov 23 from a fatal dose of the extremely rare radioactive isotope polonium 210.
The British ambassador to Moscow was summoned to the foreign ministry this morning to be informed of the expulsions, which were later announced to the Russian media.
Foreign ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin described Russia's response as "targeted, balanced and the minimum necessary."
"The position of the Brown Government is not based on British common sense and reasoning," he said.
Russia's ambassador to Britain, Yuri Fedotov, later reiterated the country would not extradite Mr Lugovoi.
He also said Russia's response to Britain's expulsion of Russian officials was "proportionate, targeted and minimalistic".
A spokesman for Prime Minister Gordon Brown vowed to seek international support for Britain's stance in the dispute .
"We think the action they have taken is completely unjustified and we will continue to take this matter forward with the international community over the next weeks," Michael Ellam said.
While Moscow's response heightens the tensions between the countries, President Vladimir Putin's retaliation is more measured than had been feared in some quarters.
A Scotland Yard investigation has gathered enough evidence to press charges against Mr Lugovoi, another former KGB spy.
But the Russian authorities have refused Britain's extradition request. Mr Lugovoi protests his innocence.
An added twist yesterday saw exiled billionaire and Kremlin opponent Boris Berezovsky claim Mr Putin was behind an attempt to assassinate him.
Relations between London and Moscow are now at their lowest ebb since the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991.
The last time the two countries expelled each other's diplomats was during a row over spying allegations in 1996.
telegraph.co.uk