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Russia’s ambassador destroys west: ‘We’ll be deeply in a Cold War situation’

THE Russian ambassador in Australia has launched an extraordinary tirade during a lengthy press conference.

Debra KillaleaDebra Killalea
@DebKillalea
3 min read
March 28, 2018 - 5:32PM
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THE Russian ambassador to Australia has unleashed on the West, saying Moscow is fed up with the propaganda levelled against it.

Russian ambassador to Australia, Grigory Logvinov, also warned “we’ll be deeply in a Cold War situation” if the West continued to punish his country.

During an extraordinary press conference in Canberra today, an angry Mr Logvinov’s defended his country against accusations it was behind the March 4 poisoning attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the UK.

In his tirade, Mr Logvinov said Australia was following Britain’s lead without having proof that Moscow was behind the attack.

The ambassador also refused to name the two diplomats who were expelled from the embassy in Canberra yesterday and sensationally said the poisoning of Mr Skripal could be “completely fabricated”.

Moscow vehemently denies it is behind the March 4 poisoning attack in the English city of Salisbury, a crime which Britain accused Moscow of committing.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said Moscow could only be responsible for the attack which was carried out using the highly lethal, Russian-made nerve agent Novichok.

More than 130 diplomats have been expelled from 23 countries as the furore surrounding the diplomatic scandal grows.

The Skripals remain in a critical condition in hospital.

Mr Logvinov said Russia was fed up of the propaganda levelled against it. Picture: Lukas Coch/AAP
Mr Logvinov said Russia was fed up of the propaganda levelled against it. Picture: Lukas Coch/AAP

Australia yesterday joined the chorus of condemnation over the scandal with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announcing it was expelling two diplomats in response.

However Mr Logvinov said it was important to remember Russia was innocent until proven guilty and it was up to Britain to come up with the evidence.

“My gosh, who has seen the Skripals after their alleged poisoning?,” he asked while insisting Britain needed to prove Russia was behind the incident by providing samples.

“I am asking, who has seen any real medical report besides political statements that they were poisoned with some alleged nerve agent?” he said.

“Actually, how can the British, within one or two days, find that it is a nerve agent which was produced in Russia?

“At least we need to start analysing something if all we can come to a conclusion. Before we can say it is fabricated, what are we sure about?”

Mr Logvinov said Moscow had had enough of the anti-Russian propaganda levied against it.

When asked why governments would try to demonise Russia, the ambassador said that was up to London or Washington to answer and Russia wouldn’t be repenting.

“What do they want to see? Their final point? If they want Russia, if they are hopeful for Russia to fall on its knees, to repent and say: ‘Yes, we are a bad place and so on’, you see, it is blasphemy,” he said.

“Because don’t forget, please, Russia has lost more than today’s population of the whole of Australia and we have never surrendered. It sounds like a bad joke to expect Russia to give up and repent.”

Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia remain fighting for their lives in hospital.
Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia remain fighting for their lives in hospital.

Mr Logvinov was defiant when asked if we are in the midst of a new Cold War and simply said: “If the West ... wants it”.

The ambassador’s tirade didn’t end there, aside from taking a huge swipe at the UK, he also compared the US with Stalin.

The ambassador said Russia was always encountered negative activity from the West and this latest incident was part of many conspiracies against it.

He said this anti-Russian campaign started and gained momentum as Russia became more and more independent.

“That is the problem. First of all, Americans, colleagues, they are not used to having equal partnership or relations with anyone,” he said.

“You see, they are following the old principle formulated actually by Stalin, if not, they would be against us. They cannot imagine, they cannot actually accept, any other state which can carry out independent foreign policy but not be hostile to the US. That is the situation, regrettably.”

Mr Mr Logvinov stopped short of saying whether Australia was part of the anti-Russian conspiracy but said it was clear Canberra was following an ally.

“I don’t believe it is simple and that the Australians are so simple that they can be fooled by anyone,” he said.

Mr Logvinov said he understood “Australia is acting within the framework of the Euro Atlantic and Anglo-Saxon solidarity. “

His appearance at press conference quickly gained the attention of Twitter, with some pointing out he dominated the media.

Others were amused by his approach.

debra.killalea@news.com.au

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/russias-ambassador-destroys-west-well-be-deeply-in-a-cold-war-situation/news-story/7cc361962ebd9d30a97e2928830b36c1