Russia announced on Thursday the tit-for-tat expulsion of four British diplomats, a visa ban on British officials and the suspension of bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation amid a mounting diplomatic row.
“The British ambassador has been officially notified that four British embassy employees have been declared persona non grata,” foreign ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said. The diplomats have been given 10 days to leave the country, Kamynin said.
The row erupted after Russia last week refused to extradite the man Britain accuses of the London murder last year of former Russian agent and fierce Kremlin critic, Alexander Litvinenko.
Britain on Monday ordered the expulsion of four Russian diplomats and announced visa restrictions on Russian government officials, citing Moscow’s refusal to extradite Andrei Lugovoi, a former KGB agent.
Russia said the measures would have “the most serious consequences” on Russian-British relations, and analysts said the dispute was reminiscent of stand-offs during the Cold War years.
In response to British restrictions on visas for Russian officials, “Russian officials will not request British visas, and visa applications by British government officials will not be considered,” Kamynin said. “Unfortunately the measures announced by the authorities in London make impossible future cooperation between Russia and Britain in the struggle against terrorism.”
UK foreign secretary David Miliband condemned Moscow’s expulsions as “completely unjustified”. The US and EU have thrown their weight behind London, with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice saying that Moscow should extradite Lugovoi.
