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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Arrest warrant in Litvinenko case | Arrest warrant in Litvinenko case |
| (4 days later) | |
| Russian politician Andrei Lugovoi, wanted by UK police for the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, will be arrested if he enters any European country. | Russian politician Andrei Lugovoi, wanted by UK police for the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, will be arrested if he enters any European country. |
| The British ambassador to Moscow, Sir Anthony Brenton, said a European arrest warrant had been issued. | |
| Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has blamed the UK for a diplomatic rift which developed after Mr Litvinenko was poisoned in London last year. | Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has blamed the UK for a diplomatic rift which developed after Mr Litvinenko was poisoned in London last year. |
| He has ordered the closure of two British Council offices in Russia. | He has ordered the closure of two British Council offices in Russia. |
| 'Deterioration' | 'Deterioration' |
| The council is a non-governmental organisation which promotes British culture abroad. | The council is a non-governmental organisation which promotes British culture abroad. |
| Moscow has made it clear that the decision to close the offices in St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg was part of the continuing dispute over its refusal to extradite Mr Lugovoi, a former KGB agent. | Moscow has made it clear that the decision to close the offices in St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg was part of the continuing dispute over its refusal to extradite Mr Lugovoi, a former KGB agent. |
| It would penalise the thousands of Russian citizens who benefit from the council's activities. Foreign Office response to the potential British Council closures | It would penalise the thousands of Russian citizens who benefit from the council's activities. Foreign Office response to the potential British Council closures |
| Britain expelled four Russian diplomats in July, with Russia expelling four Britons shortly afterwards. | Britain expelled four Russian diplomats in July, with Russia expelling four Britons shortly afterwards. |
| Mr Lavrov told a news briefing: "Britain has embarked on a programme of systematic deterioration of our bilateral relations, expelled Russian diplomats, ceased all co-operative contact with the FSB (Russian state security service), meaning any and all counter-terrorism co-operation." | |
| Mr Lavrov said the offices "are in violation of an international convention on consular relations". | Mr Lavrov said the offices "are in violation of an international convention on consular relations". |
| 'Serious attack' | 'Serious attack' |
| The Foreign Office has said Britain still wants to work with Russia on issues of common interest. | The Foreign Office has said Britain still wants to work with Russia on issues of common interest. |
| However, it warned the Kremlin that if it carried out its threat against the British Council it would constitute a "serious attack" against a "legitimate cultural agent" of the UK government. | However, it warned the Kremlin that if it carried out its threat against the British Council it would constitute a "serious attack" against a "legitimate cultural agent" of the UK government. |
| A spokesman said: "It would show a disregard for the rule of law. It would penalise the thousands of Russian citizens who benefit from the council's activities. | A spokesman said: "It would show a disregard for the rule of law. It would penalise the thousands of Russian citizens who benefit from the council's activities. |
| "And it would only damage Russia's reputation around the world." | "And it would only damage Russia's reputation around the world." |
| Mr Lugovoi is the main suspect in the radiation poisoning murder of Kremlin critic Mr Litvinenko, and the Crown Prosecution Service has said it has enough evidence to charge him. | Mr Lugovoi is the main suspect in the radiation poisoning murder of Kremlin critic Mr Litvinenko, and the Crown Prosecution Service has said it has enough evidence to charge him. |
| He denies any involvement. | He denies any involvement. |
| Mr Lugovoi had tea with Mr Litvinenko at London's Millennium Mayfair Hotel on the day he fell ill in November, 2006. | Mr Lugovoi had tea with Mr Litvinenko at London's Millennium Mayfair Hotel on the day he fell ill in November, 2006. |