Moscow unleashing “cold war” with London :: Charter'97 :: News

Moscow terminates cooperation with London in the struggle against terrorism thus responding to the sanctions against Russia for its refusal to extradite the former officer of the Russian secret service Andrei Lugovoy, main suspect of the murder case of the former FSB lieutenant -colonel Aleksandr Litvinenko.

Moscow declares 4 British diplomats’ persons non grata obliging them to leave the country within 10 days and, what is even more important, terminates cooperation in the struggle against terrorism. Further more, according to the information agencies, the visa moratorium is to be imposed at the level of state officials: Moscow will not consider the applications of the British officials for Russian visas and the Russian officials have been prohibited since now to pay official visits to London.

The Moscow’s response was not a surprise and quite predictable. Nevertheless, the British Foreign Office declares that all the possible return measures of Russia are considered unjustifiable. The day before Britain has been officially supported by the European Union in the Lugovoy case. And today London has been backed by the US State Secretary Candoleezza Rice: according to her, Russia should have respected the London’s intentions to sue a probable murdered of the British citizen in his country.