British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on Monday that Britain will expel four diplomats from the Russian embassy in London due to Russia's refusal to extradite a main suspect in the Alexander Litvinenko's poisoning case, Andrei Lugovoi, who was accused of murdering the former Russian agent Litvinenko.
Speaking at the House of Commons, Miliband also said Britain would suspend visa facilitation negotiation with Russia.
"This is a situation the government has not sought and does not welcome. But we have no choice but to address it," he said.
Last Tuesday, Britain said Russia's refusal to extradite Andrei Lugovoi over the murder of Litvinenko, a former officer of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), was "unacceptable."
"We've consistently said that the murder of Mr. Litvinenko is a serious criminal matter," said a spokeswoman for the Foreign Office.
"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 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 on 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.
On July 5, Russia's Prosecutor General's Office formally rejected Britain's request for the extradition of Lugovoi.
Russia has said its refusal was 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
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article