Lugovoi

Well... events of the last couple of days are not altogether encouraging in terms of Anglo-Russian relations. Moscow has asserted that it will not extradite Andrei Lugovoi, because Russia's constitution prevents citizens' extradition. The Foreign Office refuse to consider Moscow's offer to try Lugovoi in Russia and "is expected to announce a tough response as early as next week" this morning's FT reports. “you can expect something to be announced to parliament very soon,” says "one Whitehall insider.
"Analysts said a return to the Cold War tactic of diplomatic expulsions was one option likely to be being considered, alongside visa bans on certain law and order officials, or withdrawing cooperation in areas such as education, social affairs or counter-terrorism information."

This is not encouraging for those of us who rely on such cooperation. In certain areas - like access to archives - there has been a dramatic decline in accessibility to Western researchers since 2000, and this kind of antagonism is only going to make the situation worse. It is a curious irony: if the government listened more carefully to the kind of political science research carried out with the money it provides to the research councils and universities - the kind of research it is so ready to jeopardise with ill-considered threats and insinuations - it might realise that these kinds of tactics simply are not going to intimidate Putin's government.
This kind of thing is not helped by sloppy journalism. A story datelined today (for tomorrow's paper?) on Guardian online suggests:
"President Putin has angrily dismissed as "stupidity" Britain's request for Mr Lugovoi's extradition. The Kremlin has already waged a campaign of intimidation and harassment against Britain's ambassador in Moscow, Tony Brenton, carried out by activists from the Russian youth group Nashi. Pro-Kremlin protesters picketed the British embassy, jumped in front of the ambassador's car and heckled his speeches. The anti-UK campaign has spread to the British Council, which has been raided by tax officials wearing balaclavas, and was last month told to move out of its offices in the city of Yekaterinburg."
Well, this is a dodgy insinuation. Nashi (whose links with the Kremlin are dubious - it is certainly not true to suggest that it is simply an organ of the Kremlin) began its campaign against Tony Brenton after the latter attended an opposition conference in July 2006 - 5 months before the Litvinenko murder.

Time running out at the internet cafe and I have been distracted by having to write an email to the Guardian about the above innaccuracy. Tonight we are going to see Swan Lake at the Marinskii theatre. More news soon!