Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has dismissed as "inappropriate" a statement by a British minister that his country would not ease visa rules with Russia until a former KGB bodyguard implicated in a London murder is jailed in Britain.
David Lidington, minister of state for Europe, was cited by Interfax as saying Wednesday that British investigators have enough proof of Andrei Lugovoi's involvement in the death of former FSB officer-turned-Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko, poisoned in London in 2006.
But Lavrov said in an interview with Rossia-24 channel aired Thursday that British officials later denied linking the Litvinenko case to visa talks. He said Lugovoi should not be declared guilty until an investigation is wrapped up.
Lugovoi, now a State Duma deputy, reiterated his denial of involvement in Litvinenko's death Wednesday.
Germany's Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations wants rules obliging travelers between EU and Russia as well as other states to apply for visas to be abolished by 2018 at the latest, group chair Eckhard Cordes said Thursday, Bloomberg reported.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.