Russia condemns UK expulsions

[demoleft]

Source: Al Jazeera

Russia has said Britain's decision to expel four Russian diplomats over Moscow's refusal to hand over the main suspect in the murder of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko could lead to "the most serious consequences for Russian-British relations".
Moscow has said the action "would not go unanswered" but the UK has made no apologies for the move.
Aside from the expulsions - the first since 1996 – Britain said it would make it harder for Russian officials to enter the country and review co-operation on other issues.
Mikhail Kamynin, a spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry, said after Miliband's announcement: "They should understand well in London that the provocative actions conceived by the British authorities will not go unanswered and cannot fail to produce the most serious consequences for Russian-British relations as a whole."


Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/5984A1B7-0699-423F-B673-D5AD3469BBD9.htm

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Is someone finally starting to fold the red carpet Putin and his country have had the privilege to walk on in the last 10 years?

I hope so.
It's high time world leaders start to answer for their choises to the international community.

[David__77]

1. Britain refuses to extradite many persons wanted in Russia.

Sometimes state authorities do not agree to extradite due to differences in countries' legal systems, among other considerations.

[demoleft]

2. I don't deny. But Litv's murder case is international...

...and the case is of international interest.
Delicate matter, I agree.
Nonetheless I'm on the brit side in this case. Moreover, many a (non-russian) life at risk in his radioactive murder case.
Don't you think someone should answer for them?

[David__77]

3. I don't know enough about this case, but my gut reaction is to be skeptical.

I'm skeptical of the British response, because I've seen Russia being hounded, really, ever since of the fall of the USSR, and certainly long before that too. And then Russia is trying to rein in corrupt oligarchs, and many of them are being sheltered in Britain. This is every bit as much of an international scandal, in my opinion.

[demoleft]

4. I see your point.

You mean the West is no way entitled to give moral judgments on Russia's diplomacy.
I agree.

But (off-topic) I would like to see more pages on Putin/Russia here on DU, at least as many as those on Bush.
The western free hand in M.E. was counterbalanced with the Russian free hand in Chechnya, in my opinion. An exchange that killed many.
Litv, among other things he said and did (is a spy reliable?!) hinted at Chechnya, too. Here a brief but good summary if you want, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Litvinenko

But I see your point and partly agree.
Ciao!

[David__77]

5. But the Chechnya affair is internal to Russia.

Isn't that different than a foreign war? I mean, isn't it a matter of internal unrest? It seems that it's different when viewed through the lens of international law.

[demoleft]

7. Human rights, I thought, are of international interest...

What happened in Chechnya is horrible. Purely and simply. Massacres are always of our interest. What are our democracies turned to if we don't care and don't try to protest against them?

Litv had said the terrorists' attacks were managed by Russia to justify the military campaign in Chechnya. His opinion.
But Anna Politkovskaya, the murdered journalist, had said a lot on Chechnya too and on the responsibilities of Russia on human rights. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Politkovskaya
Do you want to wait for evidence? Do, David. I see it already clear enough. Russia didn't respect human rights which are patrimony of the humanity and democrats in particular.

Iraq and Saddam had no hidden weapons. The war is unjust and in fact we detest Bush - and I personally hate to hear Powell speak lately, he should just run and hide. Where are the international law rights in the Iraqi matter? Where, in the Chechnya matter?

It's in this legal "gap" in both cases - the way the West and Russia are committing crimes without facing any responsibilities - that I see an exchange of favors.

Then I agree with you. We can't do lessons on morality.

[TheLastMohican]

6. Gordon Brown is trying to prove that he can jump higher than the "poodle"?

Gordon Brown is trying to prove that he can jump higher than the "poodle"? Jump higher, Gordie!

UK has no leverage on Russia in this deal other than sending all the Russia's corrupt oligarchs out - which will be welcomed in Russia with open arms and a comfy cell in prison, but UK has lots of assets in gas and oil extraction in Russia. BP and Shell ring a bell?
If the UK wants some war with Russia, they will be left very very stupid. The whole idea now is to "save face" which they are frantically trying to do.
The new poodle doesn't decide anything and Russia rightfully thinks that it is better to solve things with the master (aka Bush and Ko). Let the poodle howl outside.

[demoleft]

8. Agree, but...

..."sending all the Russia's corrupt oligarchs out" is different from the Litv.'s case.
The reason is: the latter is a murder of international interest. Political - because of the implications of many things this "deep throat" said - and criminal - as to the way he died and the possible consequences on other innocent western people.

It makes a difference and that's why I'm on the Brit side in this case.
Don't you think so?

[TheLastMohican]

9. No, I don't

Britain for so many years refuses to give back to Russia Berezovsky oligarch, and famous chechen terrorist Zakaev despite given a thorough evidence for the jail time for both. You see the "refugee status" is a sacred cow in UK no matter what kind of person this is.
What about the double-standard practice of the Brits? Do they want cooperation from the russkies? How about trying to cooperate themselves?

[demoleft]

10. I see what you mean. I don't agree, but I see.

[ohio2007]

11. Russia wanted a return to the Cold War days..........well.... nt