Lavrov accuses Britain of 'intrigues' against Russia

Moscow, Sep 3 (UNI) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today accused Britain of involvement in plotting intrigues against his country.

Addressing students at the Moscow Institute of International Relations, Mr Lavrov said Britain had willingly or unwillingly become involved in underhanded machinations against Russia by offering political asylum to known criminals, such as the exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky.

''I do not think that the British side, in taking the decision several years ago to grant political asylum to certain odious characters, knowingly sought to manipulate Russia's internal affairs. But London has gradually found itself, willingly or unwillingly, drawn in as a participant in intrigues directed at Russia,'' he said.

He, however, pointed out he did not see ''anything tragic'' in the current state of Russian-British relations.

Mr Lavrov said the tensions between Moscow and London only arose in the wake of Britain's decision in July to expel four Russian diplomats.

The expulsions, along with a suspension of bilateral talks on easing the visa regime between the two countries, came in response to Moscow's refusal to extradite Russian businessman Andrei Lugovoi, main accused in the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, in London last November.

In a tit-for-tat move, Russia expelled four British diplomats, refusing to issue visas to British officials and prohibiting its own officials from traveling to Britain.

UNI