An Anglo-Russian “Diplomatic War”

British and Russian editorials have sided with their respective governments in what some called a “diplomatic war” over the expulsion of Russian diplomats from London after Moscow refused to extradite a murder suspect.

In Russia, newspapers strongly condemned the British decision to expel four Russian diplomats after Moscow refused to extradite the main suspect in the murder of a former Russian agent, Alexander Litvinenko, last year. British prosecutors had requested that Andrei Lugovoi, a former KGB officer, be extradited to face trial in Britain for Litvinenko’s murder, which Russia rejected.

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“What choice have we?” asked the Daily Mail. “By refusing to extradite Andrei Lugovoi to face trial, [Russian] President Vladimir Putin has committed an outrage that demands punishment … As it is, the new prime minister has come up with sanctions that will present Putin with real difficulties in his dealings with the West. Mr. Brown has faced his serious test as an international statesman — and passed it with ease.”

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(DW; Image: AP)

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