The Russia Blog
The British press is full of rumours that a number of Russian diplomats are soon to be expelled from Britain, following Russia’s formal refusal to extradite Andrei Lugovoi to face charges of murdering Alexander Litvinenko.
This extract is from the Telegraph, but all the other major papers have covered the story in a similar… Read the rest
Yesterday was a busy day for Boris Berezovsky. Well, actually, the man himself was probably sat at home in London sipping a particularly fine wine, but it was a busy day for his prosecutors over in Moscow.
Not only did Berezovsky’s trial in absentia on charges of embezzling Aeroflot’s funds begin, but he was also separately charged for… Read the rest
The British Director for Public Prosecutions today announced that he intended to charge Andrei Lugovoi with the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, and called for him to be extradited from Russia:
I have today concluded that the evidence sent to us by the police is sufficient to charge Andrey Lugovoy with the murder of Mr
Two British RAF Tornados were scrambled last month to intercept a two Russian Tupolev Tu-142 (Bear) bombers just off the Scottish coast last month, it has emerged. And here’s the picture to prove it:
It seems as though the Russian planes had taken a trip out to watch the Royal Navy’s recent… Read the rest
Almost half of Russian voters think that this year’s parliamentary elections will be marred by fraud, and will not reflect the will of the people, is the key finding of a suvey by the Levada Centre.
Some key stats:
Boris Berezovsky hit the headlines again today, claiming in an interview with a British newspaper that he was actively “plotting a new Russian revolution” – using force, if necessary.
Apparently, he also told the Guardian newspaper that he was:
bankrolling people close to the president who are conspiring to mount a palace coup.
Hmmm. Not so… Read the rest
So, the breaking news is that British police have completed their investigation into the death of Alexander Litvinenko.
The key quote from the police:
“(The Metropolitan Police) has this morning handed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service regarding the investigation into the death of Alexander Litvinenko,” a statement from London’s Metropolitan Police Scotland Yard
British police have submitted a request to the Russian Prosecutor General to return to Moscow and interview more people in relation to the death of Alexander Litvinenko. The request comes (not at all co-incidentally, I’m sure!) just one day after Russian police submitted a request to the Home Office to visit London and interview more than… Read the rest
To celebrate Old New Year’s Eve, I dropped by the Russian Winter Festival, held in Trafalgar Square, London this afternoon. Lots of music, dancing, and even an appearance by Grandfather Frost himself.
Full size pictures are below the fold:
As I mentioned at the tail-end of yesterday’s post (here), the Russian Priz mini submarine stranded on the floor of the Pacific Ocean has been rescued. All seven crewmembers are reported to be in good condition. They’ll still need to undergo medical examiniation but, judging by this picture, they were fit enough to walk… Read the rest
A Russian mini-submarine with a full complement of seven sailors remains trapped on the floor of the Pacific ocean for a second day. The Russian Navy has reportedly begun its rescue mission, attaching cables to the submarine in an attempt to either lift it and/or tug it to shallower waters. Interfax reports that
Two weeks after the first bombing, four more terrorist bombs have exploded in London, three on the tube, one on a bus. Only, this time, the explosions seem to have been only detonators, with no actual explosive attached. One person is reported injured, several tube lines have been closed, and that’s about it so far. … Read the rest
Buy to let is a craze that has swept the United Kingdom over the last few years, as the economy has boomed. Buy a house or flat (apartment), let it out at enough to cover the interest only mortgage, then after a few years flog it on to take advantage of obscene increases in… Read the rest
24 hours on, and life in London seems to be getting pretty much back to normal. The transport network, with a few exceptions, is running pretty smoothly for short journeys in and out of the capital, although the number of people who have decided to come into work today is far lower than normal, easing… Read the rest
Now I’m back home safely (thanks to all for your concern and kind words) lets get back to what this blog is all about – Russia or, for today at least, Russia’s reaction to today’s terrorist bombings in London.
First up is Vladimir Putin who is in the UK this today for the G8… Read the rest
