Russia expresses surprise at British reaction
The Russian Foreign Ministry today expressed surprise that Russia was being accused of refusing to cooperate with Britain in the fight against terrorism, saying it was Britain that took the first “unfriendly” step.
Relations between the two countries have been badly strained over Moscow’s refusal to extradite the main suspect in the poisoning death of Alexander Litvinenko.
While downplaying the confrontation, President Vladimir Putin yesterday said it was up to Britain to back down.
Putin spoke shortly after Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin announced that Russia would expel four British diplomats, mirroring punishment meted out by London for the refusal to hand over suspect Andrei Lugovoy.
Kamynin also said Russia would halt counterterrorism cooperation.
Today, the spokesman said Moscow was surprised by how the announcement had been interpreted.
“We see a desire to turn everything upside down,” Kamynin said in a statement. He said Russia’s decision was made necessary by Britain’s announcement that it was suspending cooperation with the Federal Security Service, or FSB, which is Russia’s main counterterrorism agency.
Lugovoy once worked for the Federal Security Service, the main successor to the KGB, as did Litvinenko.
