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Russia says Boris Johnson embassy protest call 'shameful' | Russia says Boris Johnson embassy protest call 'shameful' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Russia has condemned Boris Johnson's call for demonstrations outside its London embassy as "shameful". | Russia has condemned Boris Johnson's call for demonstrations outside its London embassy as "shameful". |
The foreign secretary said on Tuesday that he would "like to see" a protest against bombings of the Syrian city of Aleppo, which are being blamed on Vladimir Putin's forces. | The foreign secretary said on Tuesday that he would "like to see" a protest against bombings of the Syrian city of Aleppo, which are being blamed on Vladimir Putin's forces. |
But Moscow, which denies the claims, accused him of "Russophobic hysteria". | But Moscow, which denies the claims, accused him of "Russophobic hysteria". |
And the Stop the War Coalition said protests in the UK would not "make a blind bit of difference". | And the Stop the War Coalition said protests in the UK would not "make a blind bit of difference". |
And a Labour spokesman suggested people were free to protest outside the embassies of all foreign powers intervening in Syria, including the US. | |
'Pariah' | |
The northern Syrian city of Aleppo has become the most high-profile battleground in the country's five-year civil war. | The northern Syrian city of Aleppo has become the most high-profile battleground in the country's five-year civil war. |
A UN relief convoy was attacked from the air last month - an action widely blamed on Russia, an ally of President Bashar al-Assad. | A UN relief convoy was attacked from the air last month - an action widely blamed on Russia, an ally of President Bashar al-Assad. |
In an emergency House of Commons debate on Tuesday, Mr Johnson called for those responsible for strikes on the convoy and hospitals in Aleppo to face trial at the International Criminal Court. | In an emergency House of Commons debate on Tuesday, Mr Johnson called for those responsible for strikes on the convoy and hospitals in Aleppo to face trial at the International Criminal Court. |
Saying Russia risked becoming a "pariah" state, he told MPs the UK government was "taking the lead" in raising awareness of the situation in Syria. | Saying Russia risked becoming a "pariah" state, he told MPs the UK government was "taking the lead" in raising awareness of the situation in Syria. |
He added: "There is no commensurate horror, it seems to me, amongst some of those anti-war protest groups. | He added: "There is no commensurate horror, it seems to me, amongst some of those anti-war protest groups. |
"I would certainly like to see demonstrations outside the Russian embassy. | "I would certainly like to see demonstrations outside the Russian embassy. |
"Where is the Stop the War Coalition at the moment? Where are they?" | |
Russia's government has reacted angrily. | Russia's government has reacted angrily. |
Its Ministry of Defence spokesman, Major-General Igor Konashenkov, said: "The Russophobic hysteria regularly whipped up by various members of the British establishment for a long time now has been quite underwhelming. | Its Ministry of Defence spokesman, Major-General Igor Konashenkov, said: "The Russophobic hysteria regularly whipped up by various members of the British establishment for a long time now has been quite underwhelming. |
"Therefore, the frenzy that has gripped... Boris Johnson, who accuses Russia of committing every deadly sin, is a storm in a teacup full of muddy London water." | "Therefore, the frenzy that has gripped... Boris Johnson, who accuses Russia of committing every deadly sin, is a storm in a teacup full of muddy London water." |
'Total destruction' | 'Total destruction' |
And Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the Interfax news agency: "It is clear now what Boris Johnson meant when he said that the weapon that the West would be using against Russia was shame. | And Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the Interfax news agency: "It is clear now what Boris Johnson meant when he said that the weapon that the West would be using against Russia was shame. |
"The statement he made calling on protests in front of the Russian embassy is a shame. It is shameful. | |
"It is shameful for the simple reason that now it is becoming clear who is behind the so-called organisations and social movements and representatives of civil society that come out to Russian embassies on different occasions." | |
French foreign minister Jean-Marc Aryault, who has echoed Mr Johnson's call for the International Criminal Court to investigate Russia's actions in Syria, questioned the purpose of his counterpart's comments. | |
"Is it the job of a foreign minister to organise demonstrations?" he told journalists. | |
Air strikes on Aleppo continued on Tuesday, with at least 25 people reported dead. | Air strikes on Aleppo continued on Tuesday, with at least 25 people reported dead. |
The United Nations has warned that eastern Aleppo, where an estimated 275,000 people still live, could face "total destruction" within two months. | The United Nations has warned that eastern Aleppo, where an estimated 275,000 people still live, could face "total destruction" within two months. |
Last week, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution drafted by France calling for an end to the bombing in the city. | Last week, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution drafted by France calling for an end to the bombing in the city. |
Ex-MI6 boss warns | Ex-MI6 boss warns |
Stop the War vice-chairman Chris Nineham said the group would not organise demonstrations outside the Russian embassy in London. | Stop the War vice-chairman Chris Nineham said the group would not organise demonstrations outside the Russian embassy in London. |
Its aim was to "make a difference to what Britain does" and what its allies do, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, adding: "But if we have a protest outside the Russian embassy, it wouldn't make a blind bit of difference as to what Putin does, because we are in Britain and we are in the West. | Its aim was to "make a difference to what Britain does" and what its allies do, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, adding: "But if we have a protest outside the Russian embassy, it wouldn't make a blind bit of difference as to what Putin does, because we are in Britain and we are in the West. |
"And, not only that - a protest outside the Russian embassy would actually contribute to increasing the hysteria and the jingoism that is being whipped up at the moment against Russia." | "And, not only that - a protest outside the Russian embassy would actually contribute to increasing the hysteria and the jingoism that is being whipped up at the moment against Russia." |
Sir John Sawers, the former head of MI6, told Today Mr Johnson should be wary of calling for demonstrations in London. | Sir John Sawers, the former head of MI6, told Today Mr Johnson should be wary of calling for demonstrations in London. |
He urged him to "recall" the storming and ransacking of the British embassy by protesters in Iran in 2011. | He urged him to "recall" the storming and ransacking of the British embassy by protesters in Iran in 2011. |
He added: "I don't think that would happen in Moscow, but you have to be careful about the consequences of what you call for." | He added: "I don't think that would happen in Moscow, but you have to be careful about the consequences of what you call for." |
A spokesman for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Russia was not the only foreign power involved in the Syrian conflict and all of them needed to come together in pursuit of a negotiated settlement. | |
"Obviously, people are entitled and at complete liberty to demonstrate outside not only the Russian embassy, but all the other embassies of those intervening powers," he said. | |
"People are free to protest outside the intervening powers' embassies and there are a number of them - not just the US and Russia." |
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