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DITTRICH · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 1:36 pm Post subject: British Russian Relations

This is somewhat of a first for me, starting off a thread outside the transport section so please be gentle Wink

I am extremely saddened by the distinctly biased views appearing in the British press concerning the latest events. But let's recap for a moment.

1 A certain Mr Litvinenko was fatally poisoned in London
2 Mr Litvinenko held a UK passport
3 The UK conducted investigations
4 The UK requested extradition of a Mr Lugovoi to the UK
5 The Russians refused the request
6 The UK obtains a european arrest warrant for Mr Lugovoi (I think)
7 Some British Council offices are declared to be operating illegally.
8 Those offices are ordered to be closed.
9 The UK does not close those offices
10The Russians take further measures

I think that's a good summary but wait to be corrected.

I think the UK government have badly handled this whole situation.

The whole Litvinenko affair probably has far more to do with Russian business and politics than whether or not someone has a British passport. We all know russian business disagreements can deteriorate to the point when someone gets permanently dealt with. And the lines between business and politics don't really exist and are inseparable.
I cannot see any reason why it was in the interests of the UK to persue Lugovoi or anyone else in respect of this matter.

As a result of asking for Lugovoi to be extradicted, the Russian were bound to point out that the UK was harbouring some people whom the Russians would have liked to get their hands on but could not because the UK government would not let them. I am thinking not only of Mr Berezovski but also I believe some person from Chechnya or thereabouts - can't remember the name. You would think by this stage the Uk government would realise this wasn't going anywhere but no they applied for and got a european arrest warrant.

So its no real surprise when the British Council gets 2 offices suspended on technical grounds. There has been nothing in the UK press explaining these technical reasons merely the assumption that those reasons are invalid. My money is on the technical reasons being perfectly within Russian Law and the British Council not having its documentation in order.

Next the UK refuse to shut the offices and then the Russians react as one would expect them to in the face of such a refusal.

I would be interested in understanding what precisely the Russian newspapers are saying is the technical basis for the closure of the British Council offices. Does anyone know?

At the end of this I cannot understand what the UK government hopes to achieve by taking the high moral position. Perhaps someone can enlighten me?

Les

TrevorM · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:48 pm Post subject:

A large selection of reader comments and views on the BBC web-site:-

http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?sortBy=1&forumID=4088&start=0&tstart=0&edition=1&ttl=20080117160806#paginator

My own view is that the whole thing has been totally mis-handled by the current UK Government (nothing new there) and Putin with some nifty footwork has completely out-maneouvered them and shown them up to be a bunch of clowns.

RusskiCanadian23 · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 11:09 pm Post subject:

The UK should keep their fat noses out of Russia's business! I guess they still think that "The Sun never goes down in the British Empire" and shit like that. Well, guess what: the British Empire is dead! No one's scared of you bastards any more! You do not rule the world, or even "the waves" any longer! Britain needs to shut the fuck up, and take care of its own shit, of which it has plenty. Like the fact that they are one of a few pathetic, backward societies of the world that still have a Monarch presiding over them! (Technically, that means so does Canada, and that doesn't make me feel any better, believe me, I can't wait 'till we get a President of our own!) Monarchy is in the past, GET OVER IT! If you've got a Queen ruling your country, with a Dynasty Heir system, then, I'm sorry, you can't possibly talk to others of Democracy. That ain't Democracy, that's the bloody Middle Ages!

yorbcbud · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 3:42 am Post subject:

yorbcbud · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 3:50 am Post subject: Re: British Russian Relations

surfguy · Lounge Wizard Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 6979

Crabman · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:33 pm Post subject:

The Queen is a figurehead and has no power. We mostly keep her around for the tourists (the Americans seem to like her).

That said, there are certain traditions.

By tradition, she does have a weekly (private) meeting with the Prime Minister while Parliament is in session. Nothing sinister here. The Queen has a right "to be consulted, to encourage and to warn" on all government matters. The PM listens and then goes and does what he bloody well pleases (subject to the laws and Parliament, of course).

MI5 (National Security Service) report to the Home Secretary and ultimately to the PM and Parliament. MI6 (Secret Intelligence Service - James Bond, etc.) report to the Foreign Secretary (and ultimately to the PM and Parliamnet). In theory all government and the military are under the control of the Queen. In practice and in fact she has no power.

Crabman · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:42 pm Post subject:

DITTRICH · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:33 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the responses.
We still await the forum member who would be able to comment on what has been published in the Russian newspapers. I get russian satellite news and prgramming but tv isn't the best medium for a detailed explanation.
As for the comments about the UK poking its nose into other people's business - I could not agree more - and I live in the UK - however I do believe both the canadians and americans sent people to iraq and therefore the words "pot" "kettle" and "black" spring to mind.
Les

RusskiCanadian23 · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:59 am Post subject:

yorbcbud · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 6:38 am Post subject:

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