Dealing with Russia

Georgia fighting: Image licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License

Tuesday, 12, Aug 2008 12:00

Russia is drawing the criticism of the international community after sending troops into neighbouring Georgia.

The Kremlin's deployment of forces beyond the disputed South Ossetia region has forced the Georgian army to withdraw to defend the capital, Tbilisi, and prompted a wave of outrage from those opposing the 'invasion'.

International leaders like US president George Bush have been joined by comments from across the political spectrum in Britain, with some expressing frustration about what the government is doing to influence Moscow.

UK-Russian relations are going through a rocky patch at present over extradition disputes. Russia is angry about Britain's refusal to extradite press baron Boris Berezovsky, while Britain wants to try Andrei Lugovoi over the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko.

A dispute over the treatment of the British Council in Russia has also soured relations, leaving the government facing a tricky tightrope to walk as it seeks to pressure Russia without ruining progress towards rapprochement in recent months.