UK expels four Russian diplomats

Russia expelling four UK diplomats

MOSCOW. July 19 (Interfax) - Russia announced on Thursday that it was expelling four British Embassy officials in response to a similar British move following Russia's refusal to extradite Andrei Lugovoi, suspected of murdering former Russian intelligence agent Alexander Litvinenko.

Russian officials won't visit UK - Kamynin

MOSCOW. July 19 (Interfax) - Russian officials will not visit the UK in protest against London actions in the Andrei Lugovoi case, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said on Thursday.

Russia stops anti-terrorist cooperation with UK - Kamynin

MOSCOW. July 19 (Interfax) - Russia is stopping anti-terrorist cooperation with the United Kingdom in protest against London's actions in the so-called Lugovoi case, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said on Thursday.

"We deeply regret that the measures announced by London make it impossible to develop anti-terrorist cooperation between Russia and the UK," he said.

The man all this surrounds, Andrei Lugovoi, has spoken in a radio interview

www.forbes.com...

MOSCOW -The suspect in the radiation poisoning death of Kremlin foe Alexander Litvinenko weighed in Friday on the dispute over Russia's refusal to extradite him to Britain, claiming that London provoked the confrontation to hide a lack of evidence.

In a radio interview, Andrei Lugovoi said he was prepared to face British prosecutors in Russia but will not leave his country for fear he could be arrested at the behest of Britain - which he dismissed as a haven for criminals and mocked as lacking the clout of its imperial era.

He was going to be arrested wasn't he? But that doesn't mean he would be charged with anything, although I do believe the evidence is there to do this. And as for being a shadow of our former selves and a haven for criminals - well, "people in glass houses..." springs to mind.

www.forbes.com...

As a result, he said, British authorities took steps to ensure that they would not have to prove his guilt. Those steps, he added, included requesting his extradition despite Russia's constitutional ban on handing over its citizens.

I don't know how it works in Russia but things do actually have to be proven in court in many places including the UK. Shock horror I know! How would merely requesting his extradition prevent anyone from having to "prove his guilt"? Could I assume he thinks that all the focus is on him and as such it is case closed?

www.iol.co.za...

Moscow - The man suspected by British authorities of poisoning to death former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko in London said on Friday he was ready to face trial in Russia.

Not come across the above source before and other links that I looked through did not have this from AP so take it for what it is worth. He also claims to be "hounded" by the public after reaching celebrity status. Anna Kornikova never had it so good, so fast!

www.canada.com...

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A former KGB bodyguard accused by Britain of murdering emigre Alexander Litvinenko complained on Friday he was becoming so popular at home that crowds of fellow Russians hounded him to get an autograph.

Oh give it up..
They're not going to hand him over..

You might as well ask Russia for the missiles codes of silos pointed at London, Manchester, Birmingham etc etc..

He's is(was) a Russian agent!
Why would they give him up?!

Originally posted by Daedalus3
Oh give it up..
They're not going to hand him over..

You might as well ask Russia for the missiles codes of silos pointed at London, Manchester, Birmingham etc etc..

He's is(was) a Russian agent!
Why would they give him up?!

Exactly, uk know he will not be given up to stand trial here.

Though i do agree with him that uk, is a haven for criminals, absolutely correct in my opinion.

Yea..
So why intentionally expel 4 Russian diplomats for something that you know will not get you anywhere good?!
It could only have resulted in severe reactive measures from Russia..
And lo!
we've seen those now.

Uk's suggestion to settle this

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband suggested this week that Russia should change its constitution to allow the extradition.

Well...just when I thought PR fiascos would be over with Blair...they say that...lol.
Obviously...Putin could wait a sec to rebuke (or puke on it as well, both apply now, lol)

What did Putin answer

"They should get their heads examined rather than tell us to change our constitution," he said.

If I was Brown...I'd fire Miliband....fast, how could he even suggest that! LOL

"Change your constitution so we can get your agent, kthnx"

Though Russia has tried to downplay this...UK is going the extra yard to make this even messier...claps to the British Foreign Secretary...