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Russia's refusal to extradite suspect in Litvinenko murder
"unacceptable": UK |
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08:09, July 11, 2007 |
The British Foreign Office on Tuesday condemned Russia's refusal to extradite the main suspect over the murder of Alexander Litvinenko as "unacceptable."
"We've consistently said that the murder of Mr. Litvinenko is a serious criminal matter," a spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said.
"The Russian reply is unacceptable. We will consider our response with the deliberation and seriousness that it deserves," she said.
A Downing Street spokesman also said that Russia's response was "extremely disappointing."
"We are reviewing the situation and considering what further steps we can take. We consider this a serious matter," he said.
"Russia is an important partner in many issues and we continue to seek a constructive relationship with them, but given their refusal to cooperate on this matter, we need to carefully consider our range of cooperation on a range of issues," he added.
Last Thursday, Russia's Prosecutor General's Office formally rejected Britain's request for the extradition of Andrei Lugovoy, the main suspect in the murder of former Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officer Litvinenko.
On Monday, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said in an interview with the Financial Times that Russia's refusal to extradite the man accused in last year's fatal poisoning of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko will be treated with "seriousness."
"We will deal with (the refusal) with the seriousness which it deserves," Miliband said.
However, it was important for Britain and Russia to maintain "productive relations," said Miliband, who was named foreign secretary less than too weeks ago.
Russia has said the refusal to turn over Lugovoy is based on a constitutional ban on turning Russian citizens over to foreign countries, as well as a European convention that allows signatories to refuse to extradite their nationals.
Source: Xinhua
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