The Death of Litvinenko - Britain’s Tryst With Russia
Aby June 14th, 2007
The Litvinenko murder controversy is becoming a murky business day by day as neither United Kingdom (UK) nor Russia is willing to come to a compromise. Alexander Litvinenko, a Russian ex-KGB agent died in London on 23rd of November, 2006 from what has been cited by British authorities as radiation poisoning. The investigators in Britain assert that Andrei Lugovoi, a former KGB bodyguard was behind the murder of the former Russian spy and demand extradition of Lugovoi to Britain. The Russian authorities refuse to extradite Lugovoi and assert that the trial of a Russian can take place only in Russia and that it would be “impossible” for British officers to arrest Russians in their home country.
Alexander Litvinenkov : On his death bed in a London hospital
Despite the hopes of warming of relations during G8 summit of 2006 at St. Petersburg, what is overlooked is the fact that there is a deepening ridge between the Western Europe and Russia. There will be no prizes for guessing that Russia is never going to extradite the murder suspect(s) of Litvinenko to UK. The reasons are manifold, one case could be Britain’s extradition records with Russia is not so well off. Britain had earlier refused to hand over Russian exiles like the Chechen rebel leader Akhmed Zakayev and dissident tycoon Boris Berezovsky, both of who face criminal charges in Russia. As a move to settle scores, Russian president Vladimir Putin blasted UK’s request to extradite the Lugovoi. Britain’s extradition history with criminals of other countries it as often as bad as its records with Russia which might create rifts between UK and some more countries in the near future.
The United Kingdom’s trysts with Russia is not too surprising considering Putin’s strong stance in favour of Russia’s national interests. It did not go very well with UK that Russia couldn’t be made to bend to the rules of the game played by Anglo-US allies. Perhaps this has a lot to do with Russia’s role in the world oil and arms markets, its upgraded missile systems, its hi-tech and powerful conventional military capability and most of all Putin’s mass popularity as a President amongst the Russians. So now USA and UK have started the popular game which they are good at doing against hard-to-control opponents - mudslinging. The Litvinenkov murder gave a perfect excuse to both Britain and the US to indulge in this act against Putin’s Russia. What eventually comes of it….we will soon find out.
- World Politics , Russia
- Comments(3)
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[…] in Eastern Europe and a few months later, their refusal to hand over Andrei Lugovi to UK in the Litvinenko murder case. The RS 24 ICBM and Iskander cruise missile tests on 29th May followed by the recent Bulava SLBM […]
People be the vigilant. British terrorists everywhere, they accomplices of Chechens. The British accomplice terrorists blow up our schools. If you will see an Englishman in the street call him militia and tell police.
@ shapockcha
I disagree with the British and American support for Chechen rebels; however calling the Britons or Americans terrorists would be going too far. Most of them are unaware of the nature of Chechen rebels and are selfish, but not actual terrorists.