UK Expels 4 Russian Spies In Extradition Fight

From the formerly biased BBC NEWS:

Former Kremlin bodyguard Andrei Lugovoy

UK expels four Russian diplomats

The UK is to expel four Russian diplomats in response to Moscow’s refusal to extradite the prime suspect in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband also said co-operation with Russia on a range of issues was under review.

Prosecutors want Andrei Lugovoi, an ex-KGB officer, to face trial in the UK. He denies involvement.

Moscow condemned the UK’s position as “immoral” and said the expulsions would have “serious consequences”.

Former KGB agent Mr Litvinenko died of exposure to radioactive polonium-210 in London in November 2006.

The Foreign Office has not named the four Russian diplomats, but the BBC understands they are intelligence officers.

Mr Miliband told MPs Russia was an important ally and the situation was one that Britain had “not sought and does not welcome”.

But he said it was necessary to send a “clear and proportionate signal” to Russia, about the seriousness with which Britain regarded the matter.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry chief spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said: “London’s position is immoral.

“Moreover, in London they should clearly realise that such provocative actions masterminded by the British authorities will not be left without an answer and cannot but entail the most serious consequences for Russian-British relations”…

This is a welcome and surprising gesture. But eventually these murders will just be swept under the rug.

Like some many other examples of Mr. Putin’s despicable thuggery.

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