Equal swap?

[mahnmut]

OK, why is it impossible to swap Berezovsky for Lugovoy? What's this double standard from UK? OK, UK demands from Russia to extradite Lugovoy, and Russia wants Berezovsky to be sent to Russia. Is it mission impossible? I think so.

Why did UK deny to Russia access to Berezovsky's home in London to investigate for possible traces of pollonium? What inconvenient truth could this investigation bring up?

I think the matter is clear, so the UK should really stop with this circus. They won't handle Berezovsky because of the billions he has invested in UK, and Russia won't extradite Lugovoy because he is not the killer, and because noone can order them what to do.

Comments

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

Lugovoy is wanted by the UK for what he did

You mean for what the UK alleges he did.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

It's not so simple. The problem starts as far back as the Yeltsin era, long before Putin came on stage. Yeltsin brought the oligarchs in, in order to fund his expensive war in Chechnya and to maintain his stumbling economy. But the oligarchs threatened to overtake the Russian economy and politics. So when Putin arrived, he started a war with them (perhaps trying to bring his own clique of oligarchs). This was a disaster for the foreign (mainly Western) interests, because they were already thoroughly inter-linked with these oligarchs. That's why people like Berezovsky, Khodorkovsky, Abramovich, etc are now regarded persona non grata, are persecuted etc. And the West, under the cover of "bad Putin", "authoritarian Putin" etc, are trying to tune in the public opinion against these processes that are going on in Russia. But unfortunately (for some), Russia is no more the toothless ex-giant it used to be in the immediate post-Gorbatchev years. It can now protect itself from outside intervention and it can take its decisions on its own. Russia has always had the resources to recover quickly from crises. And it can't be brought down into a submitted position so easily. So deal with it.

[alphistia.livejournal.com]

When I read a recent BBC report on this, they referred to Berezovsky as "Russian Dissident"...that caused me to gag and cackle. "Russian Crook" - yes indeed, and it begins and ends there.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

:-)

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

Berezovsky was involved because Litvinenko threatened to reveal some facts about his "business".

If you wanna preach about the lack of democracy in Russia, you better first look at the situation in the so-called democratic west, especially US.

Espionage is a normal thing. Everyone practices it, including UK. Respectively, a country has the right to eliminate a double agent, no matter where he resides at the moment. UK would do it, and Russia too. So this hue and cry on UK's part is rather pathetic and typically hypocrite.

Putin is authoritarian and Russians don't seem to mind it. This is another story, and quite a long and interesting one by the way, involving historic and cultural tendencies. But I'm sure my friend abomvubuso would shed more light on this topic.

And UK has no interest to cut its economic ties with Russia, especially at the moment. So all this is just some theatrics for the simple public.