To my western friends.

Dear fearless people, fighters with dangerous Russian evil - I see that brain washing machine in the US and other western world is working much more efficient than it used to do in USSR.
I'm from Kiev .Ukraine (for those who probably don't know where it is - it's near Russia ;-)

Eugene, Kiev, Ukraine

My dear Mikhail,

Your protests really proves the point that once brainwashed, always damaged!

In the improbable, if not certain event that Putin's man is found guilty under Russian jurisprudence, where does that leave your mate Putin?

Maxadolf, Epsom, UK

let us check if i understood he whole thing correctly.

1 To kill berezovskiy a would be killer arrived to london without weapon, having in mind to find it there

2 To kill berezovskiy aide Russians smuglled 20m costs polonium across national frontiers.
If you are kidding, give me a break!
Apart from the jokes, the acrual Br histeria is yet another evidence. Your special services committed enormous unbelievable blander and now panically try to save their ehm backs. hence insuting rhetoric (Of course russians did it, they are expert) in stead of the facts)

Andrey, Krasnodar, Russia

The Red Bear has arisen and will destroy many nations ... the first victim, the lion that was plucked of her wings, will elicit cheers from all her "friends", but don't cheer too loud you in Europe, your turn will quickly come.

In case you haven't figured it out yet, the fall of the U.S.S.R. was planned. Anatoliy Golitsyn, a former KGB intelligence analyst who defected to the U.S. in 1961, could enlighten you if you had ears to hear in his book "New Lies for Old'. He accurately predicted the breakup of the U.S.S.R. into loosely aligned countries with their power structure still Communist. Once the West was pacified and thought they had won the Cold War, Russia would rearm, maintain their nuclear arsenal while feigning weakness, re-align with China, train Muslim terrorists suppled with suitcase nukes, and supply just about every other rogue nation to start the attack. Russia will then finish the job with sub nukes. I've studied Sovietology long enough to know we're in trouble!!

John the Revelator, Sacramento, CA / USA

Conspiracy theorists of the World unite! Mark and Andrew - if only our British Govt was clever enough to engineer such clever double-edged conspiracies. I'm sure that Bush would be happy to be credited with such dastardly clever plots when most of the rest of the world thinks of him as being utterly stupid.
The fact remains that a man was posioned by a very hard to obtain nuclear by-product. Only a few countries have such technology and only Russia had the motive to use it. It would be nigh on impossible for an individual to get hold of it, which means it must have supplied by a state? How's that for a conspiracy?

Yes, the UK is guilty of giving safe haven to some undesirable and dangerous people - i wish we wouldn't, especially as it has come back to bite us with terrorism.

But really it is laughable for Russia to adopt a houlier than though attitude and act like they are the wronged party in all this.

Something to hide Mr Putin?

Allan, London,

What the British apparently fail to realise is that Berezovsky is NOT opposition. We have never thought of him as a credible politician. Berezovsky is seen as a crook who clearly attempts to pull off the same stunt as Lenin did from Germany. Please, please stop constantly referring to him as "a critic of Putin". The only reason he is critical of Putin is because Putin has driven him out of Russia after Berezovsky has lended him his support. THAT IS IT. Neither Berezovsky, nor Litvinenko (God rest his soul) are, or ever were, noble champions. In fact nobody in Russia has ever heard of Litvinenko until he got poisoned. And please, stop comparing an embezzling crook to a prominent Bulgarian dissident. They are obviously not in the same league.

Lastly, as far as I know the Russian authorities are very open to the idea of prosecuting Lugovoi in Russia. I fully appreciate the seriousness of what has happened to Litvinenko. But Russians cannot change the laws on somebodys' request

Mikhail, London,

In Russia there is no chance to find a balance of power, there is not any independent justice like we have in the West. Can you tell me if any of the people judged in Russia were by courts who did not follow directions from the Kremlin, just see the case of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who is behind bars for many years just because he is an opponent to Putin, like Berezovsky, and a rival to other new oligarchs, e.g. Roman Abramovich, who support their boss, Vladimir Putin. How many politically or mafia motivated murders were resolved or even really investigated like the one of Anna Politkovskaya’s shoot in October 2006, not a single case. She was a wonderful woman, perhaps the most outstanding journalist and investigator about the crimes committed by “especial” troops following orders from the Kremlin in Chechnya. Again nothing will change in Russia until Russians decide to have a real democracy. At least they have a much more representative Duma in times of Tsar Nicholas II (1905/17)

wetzvonken, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Putin is a sinister figure. Shifty, beady-eyed, and constantly looking left and right. President Bush must have been wearing rose-colored lenses when he thought he saw something good in this KGB re-tread. Watch him at all times, and expect the worst.

Richard Young, flint, MI , USA

Russia and the Western Left? That's easy: the Left will support anybody anti-America and, more broadly, anti-West. Ideology is less important. Here's the scoop: Chaves,Galloway, Hamas, Iran. ALL are Russia's friends. Putin is not ideological at all (for all his play to old glory etc.): his is a gangster regime, pure and simple. Of course, he has affinity to other scoundrels of the world (most of which place themselves as far-Left: witness Chaves in Belarus and Iran). But he is more vulnerable than the Politburo gang of yesteryear: his pals are heavily invested in the West, have quality of life that Communist apparatchiks could not dream of, their kids study abroad etc. They will not want to put all this at risk. If only the "West" were a little less greedy...

Michael, Manhattan, US

The United Kingdom has become refuge of terrorists anti-Russians. Incredible!

Gabriel, A Coruña, Spain

But, pete, Brisbane, Australia,
We yanks DID prevent, by the Battle of the Coral Sea, you Aussies from having to very quickly learn Japanese!
My Cousin's carrier, the Lexington, was lost in that Battle, and he had to land on the Yorktown.
His dive-bomber was the last plane off the Lex before it sank!!
Carry On, anyway!
Talley Ho!

United States of America (so far)

James, Selma, USA

I object to the constant use of the words "dissident", "vocal critic" and "oppositionist" in relation to Boris Berezovsky. To many Russians he is neither. Instead, most of us believe him to be a crook who is implicated in the murder of a Russian journalist Vlad Listyev. Among other things. The only criticism coming out of Berezovsky seems to be relegated solely to late night TV and is never directed at Bush for instance or Blair. If Putin is such a totalitarian monster, how come Berezovsky never ctiticized Bush for his relationship with Putin? Furthermore, as far as I know Russians are more than willing to prosecute Lugovoi on the Russian soil. I fail to understand the accusations of non-cooperation

Mikhail, London, UK

Ooo, I never did like that Boris. Not a very nice man, always doing bad stuff, wearing black, running around with that 2p tramp Natasha. I just wish he would leave my Bullwinkle and I alone. What does Boris Badenov have against alternative lifestyles? And who is the Fearless Leader anyway? I think wearing black, though is always fashionable. But he should lose the hat.

Rocky, SanFran, USA/CA

First off - It is utterly disgusting that known & identifiable members of the Russian secret police are being brazenly sent to England to commit political murder.

Putin should be held in complete contempt by every people worldwide and especially diplomats, regardless of their political positions.

He needs to be blackballed until the Russians figure out that this type of behavior is no longer tolerated.

We will see what kind of backing Brown's Government gets from the USA, France, Germany, SA, etc.

vincent, Tampa, FL

It's well known that Berezovskiy is a puppeteer. Not so long ago during Eltsin's time he played with Kremlin's puppets. Now he plays with Brown-puppet. Does Mr. Brown know that Mr. Berezovskiy and his Georgian friend Mr. Badri Patarkatsishvili had financed Chechen and Arab terrorists? Gentlemen from MI-5, MI-6, MI-7, MI-8, MI..... should know about that fact. But for them it was easier to kill that poor Brazilian.

Yuriy, Moscow, Russia

Putin the Thug will learn eventually that hard-handed Stalinist tactics can't silence the rest of the world in the same way as they do at home.

Trying to hold the free world hostage with its energy supplies will only work for so long before countries find better, cleaner ways to live their lives with energy independence.

Russia has seemingly done everything it can to ensure it remains a friendless nation, and will stay that way unless they pursue a policy of openness and friendship with the outside world. All that exists currently is an atmosphere of distrust and contempt.

Chris, Chicago, USA

If Vladimir is innocent, why not let Scotland Yard investingate. I "looked into his soul" and saw a KGB agent and a autocrat.

Dave Collins, Tucson, AZ

The typcoon, who stole billions from his own people during the power vacuum created after the fall of the Soviet Union. Why should he feel comfortable? He is trying to influence internal Russian affairs so he and his Mafioso can get back in and take control of the Russian people's oil, gas and minerals. As for the spy (KGB agent) who turncoated and is now dead, don't forget that the CIA and their agents would do the same to any American guilty of such treason.

Bruce, Pittsburgh, PA

Bob from Somerville NJ, I think you mean Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who wrote the "Gulag Archipelago". For a more personalised view on the application of Communism in the USSR, I would suggest another of his books: "One Day in the LIfe of Ivan Denisovich", which is surprisingly uplifting given the rationalised soul destroying nature of the regime.

Tom, London, UK

All countries need to take a stand against extra-judicial kilings (ie unlawful, not ordered by a properly appointed court). That includes both Russia and the United States.

Emma H., Ottawa, CAN

D., Sitting over there in Russian backyard may have caused you a miopy. Be as patriotic as you wish, but have a sence to acknoledge that all that hassle over the suspected plot is interesting to Berezovsky alone. The intention is to wash immature brains with an increasing Russian threat. Noone intends to threaten anybody - we all live in a new world (even though you might have missed that the fence has moved away, so that you are now in your own backyard, not ours). The unfortunate part is that HM Government mixes HM interests with those of BB.

Alex, St Petersburg, Russia, Russia

Unbelievable!! Why is the U.K. insisting on extraditing Lugovoy? They have just caught a 2nd Russian attempting to do they same, and all they do is cancel his visa and send him back to Russian.

Perhaps we could just cancel Mr Lugovoy's Visa and this crisis could be resolved?!

Shame on you Britain.

Adrian, Aldershot, England

I would be more impressed by this story if the police had said something at the time, and not simply let the suspect go. I know the police turn a blind eye to most crime, but to attempted murder? It's not a credible story

John Ledbury, Kings Lynn, England

Who really believes that Putin, or anyone in Russia, cares that much about Berezovsky? If the Russians wanted him dead, he would be dead already. This man loves to think that he is important. I love how the US and Britian think it is ok for Berezovsky to say publicly that he plans on overthrowing the democratically elected Putin, something both the US and UK would call treason, but not extradite him for crimes against the Russian people (yes, defrauding them of billions of dollars worth of wealth is a crime), yet both countries feel it is ok for Russia to ignore its own constitution and extradite one of its own citizens on scant evidence. Its hypocritical yet expected.

Nick, Piscataway, NJ

Sounds like a lot of FSB folks are commenting to me, but what do I know, I'm a Texan!

Lee, Euless, USA, TX

What evidence has been presented to support any of these reports?

Did he have a name?
Are the British authorities concealing his identity? If so, Why?
Where's his picture, didn't they photograph him?
What evidence exists to suggest he is indeed a hitman?
Why was he deported instead of being detained?
Has his identity and photograph been given to customs to prevent his re-entry?

If he was a "gunman" as was reported in many reports yesterday, then it has to be assumed that he was carrying a GUN. If so;
Did he have a British Firearms certificate?
Did he carry that gun through customs, or did someone in this country provide it?
Didn't he contravene anti-terrorism laws?

Call me a skeptic but I still like some hard evidence before swallowing a story.

Andrei, Moscow, Russia

Is it just me or all the Russian countrymen posting here backing their corrupt government? Could it be that any dissidence would lead to death? I guess we'll never know seeing as how Putin has successfully silenced most of his remaining critics.

Ya - that sounds like a democracy.

Jonathan, New York City, New York

We know Russia is longing for the days of the old USSR...This is just the next step...Poland, WATCH OUT.

Kevin from Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota USA

Alice in Moscow asks "Why did they let the suspect go if they had evidence?" Because Alice, divulging that evidence in a public hearing would expose the source of the information, and competent intelligence officers go to great lengths to protect their sources and methods.

Bill, Canton, OH

Note to Putin:

This Cold War thing has all been done before, and your side lost. Accept it and move on.

One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome the next time.

Michael, Columbus, USA

Very funny, some people still claim it is fabricated... read the article, the first half is not Berezovsky speaking but official confirmations... So whom do we believe Mr. Putin or MI5/6?
How do we explain, that over and over dissidents and journalists critical of Mr. Putin get murdered or if they lucky sentenced to jail in Siberia? Well that has not really changed in the last 90 years in Russia.
Who does believe that some Mafia people can produce Polonium 210? The fingerprint of FSB is so clear & it is certain that they would not do such a thing in the UK without the backing from very top.
The international community wants to sentence the murder of Harir in Lebanon, Assad does not like it because of close involvment.
Mr. Putin now does not like that the murderers of Litvenko go on trial (if he would they would have gotten them very quickly), guess why?
I think we should not make any difference between people be it Mr. Putin or Assad, hope EU and US stay firm on this.

Juerg, Zurich, Switzerland

Lets not be naive .How did Berezovsky make his Billions?Ask the average Russian in the street what they think.

M.Godden, Wroxall, Isle of Wight

to Nikolay in Moscow
Good question why Putin does this.. why would the FSB use Polonium 210 if they could kill him in a manner that one would not even notice homizide?
My Russian friends told me that it is to show that they FSB (Putin) can and will do whatever they want and they will not be harmed by it.
The thing is, that Russia is actually very insecure (historically, difficult to defend territory), and now is a time of transition, Putin the strong man will have to be replaced. So they think showing their muscles is the right thing.
That would also make perfect sense with the FSB openly killing Berezovsky whil Putin is with Blair at the G8...
What do the Europeans or even Americans want to do about it? They want Russian oil and gaz and definitely wont risk a nuclear war for Russian presidents killing dissidents.... or let us say have them killed.....

Juerg, Zurich, Switzerland

Russia's ambassador to Britain says his gov't has respect for British law. That's a good one! (Do I hear laughter?)

From my teaching law in Russia, I learned that a) law is a low priority for Russians, b)even the legal community has little regard for law, and c)the Russian gov't itself has little respect for the law. Does one have to list all the acts of Putin in this regard? (I assume those reading this follow the news.)

Finally, these latest incidents show how brazen the Putin
regime is, prepared to make enemies all over the place, while
making friends with the worse. Again, you read the papers.
One keeps thinking of Rapallo and Molotov-Ribbentrop. In the
end, it is the Russian people who pay the price.

Nicholas Arena, New York, , NY/USA

I'm overwhelmed at all the speculation. I'll just proceed living in my blissful world til the movie comes out. Like other GREAT movies today, I'm sure it'll be well researched and tell the REAL story...

Matt, Madison, USA

I really enjoy reading your reports about the foiled plot. I have never read anything more absurdal and illogical.

Yakov, London, UK

'Mongo only pawn in game of life'.

Karl T Stahl, Pismo Beach, USA/Ca

The stalinist spirit of governance appears to be still lurking in the corridors of the kremlin,glasnot or not.

Tony Marx, Perth, Western Australia

On the face of it it all sounds preposterous. A head of State personally involved in international murder plots. There are two elements here which make it more plausible, Putin, a former East German KGB station officer who personally witnessed the effects of the collapse of Communism on Russia and the steady rise of the personality cult, and lack of any real democratic reform, he has been fostering back in Russia. These two, added to Russia's beligerence on the world stage, begin to lend credence to an otherwise ludicrous notion.

David, Cheadle, UK

"I forget the guy's name but he wrote 'The Gulang Archielago', the KGB tormented the crap outta him for years."

The author's name is Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn. And his is a good testament as to how far Communist loyalists can go to silence dissent.

Rob Smalls, Arlington, VA

According to the comments, whatever the Russians do they are right, and the Brits wrong.
I guess this is same type of mentality that prevented people from seeing the crimes of Stalin or Hitler. When will you people learn never to trust the undemocratic governments?
And those who use the terms like "russian law" and "constitution" simply haven't got any clue what they are talking about.

Michael, London,

Are we surprised? After several years of wandering, Russia is reasserting itself in full traditional form. In a country where reporters are regularly executed without recourse, restless minorities are slaughtered, businesses are harassed into ceding assets or contractual legal rights and official corruption is rampant--what's a mere contract killing? Putin and company are bent on reestablishing dominant central control and will crush anybody who stands in their way. Keep your fingers crossed for a sharp drop in oil prices.

Dark days are here again. Congrats to the Brits in foiling this and standing up to Russia.

Emerson , New Hyde Park, NY

It is simple murder and attempted murder carried out with the implicit support of Putin directly or indirectly. Who else do these attacks benefit? I appreciate your US/UK hatred but, why can you not simply see the evil of Putin without tempering the wrongs committed by saying 'yes but the UK/US are more evil. All you have to do is look at what happens to people who speak out against him. Look at former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky, he spoke out against Putin and he was destroyed. Or look at Anna Politkovskaya, who became the 13th Russian journalist to be killed in a contract-style killing since President Vladimir Putin came to power. What of the Orange Revolution where anti-Putin Ukrainian President Yushchenko was poisoned KGB style. Look at Bush and Brown if you oppose them you will not be murdered or have your life ruined, in fact if you stand against them you often become better off.

Lelen B., Gonzales, California

There is no surprize in this. Knowing Mr Putin has been and will always be KGB is the only answer needed.

As to the US and oil, as an American getting away from the need for oil is the main desire of all of the US. We are so tired of the need for it and all the international ramifications it brings to our lives including and especially the deaths of so many on all sides. So do not lump the US citizens in with the politicians we are trying on this side to remove the word oil from our needs list and we will succeed. How long it takes to turn the oil tanker known as "US OIL REQUIRERMENTS" remains to be seem. But please know you do not hear all that is going on at the grass roots level to move that ship out of the way.

Diane Hill, Orem, Utah USA

Is the time of this story not interesting the "news" is nearly a month old, looks like a spin doctor is at work.

Erik, London,

Since when do you arrest someone on suspicion of conspiracy to murder and then let them GO????????

Don Kilme, Minsk, Russian Federation

Where is Bond, James Bond, when you really need him!

Je, Antioch, California, USA

Does anyone honestly think that if what the authorities are saying is actually true then they would tell us? How many times do we here about so called elaborate plots to focus all our attention in one direction when we should be focusing it in the other.

Marina Kyriacou, Larnaca, Cyprus

What concerns me is how Putin has begun to bring the country back towards the a cold war era. No one that I know of wants that. I think he is way to suspious of the west.

Tom, Mtn View, Missouri

Do you realise that the killer arrived on 16th June, the Queen's official Birthday, the day Oleg Gordievsky's name was unveiled as the recepient of CMG?

Sergei Cristo, Surrey, UK

The fact remains that the life expectancy of open critics of Putin is ever decreasing and the percentage of those with unresolved attempts on their life or successfully murdered increasing. There seems to be a rationale behind it and it does not take a rocket scientist to figure it out. However, there do not seem to be attempts at Putin supporters' life either in Russia or abroad. Maybe that is because the West really does play by different rules than the Kremlin?

Andrej Novak, London, UK

There are certainly a lot plot twists and turns in this whole Barezovsky/Litvinenko/Putin/Lugovoy story and I have no idea who is and isn't telling the truth. If it were fiction it would certainly be a page turner.

Scott Alber, Bloomington, USA / Indiana

Gentlemen in Russia there is no chance to find a balance of power, there is not any independent branch of justice like in the West. Can you tell me if any of the people judged in Russia were by courts who did not follow directions from the Kremlin, just see the case of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who is behind bars for many years just because he is an opponent to Putin (like Berezovsky) and a rival to other new oligarchs, like Roman Abramovich, who support their boss, Vladimir Putin. How many politically or mafia motivated murders were resolved or even really investigated like the one of Anna Politkovskaya’s shoot in October 2006, not a single case. She was a wonderful woman, perhaps the most outstanding journalist and investigator about the crimes committed by “especial” troops following orders from the Kremlin in Chechnya. Again nothing will change in Russia until Russians decide to have a real democracy, so nobody in Britain can expect any positive outcome to the current crisis.

wetzvonken, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Naperville Mark hits it square on the head - these people are simply pawns in a game that is far bigger and with much larger stakes.

Bill, Canton, OH

Ben of Brooklyn, you are clueless. Libs (US Dems) are the ones for strong central government, fewer individual rights, government programs, collectivism, etc... like the nanny states in socialist and communist countries. Conservatives (mantra lost by many Republicans) support state rights, limited central government and individual rights.
By definition, US libs are much closer to the Russian point of view.
The Russian government (before, during and since Soviets) has a tendency towards clandestine dealings. Hopefully, the new Russians will shake the old government habits.

Stu, Dallas, Texas

Looks to me like the Russians are going back to their old ways and the rest of the world better be prepared for it. Wake up folks!

Mark, Denver,

Mr Putin is a autocrat that has little patience for dissent. Falling back into his old dirty bags of tricks should be of no surprise. Do you people read? The story said British authorities suggested Berezovsky should leave the country. How does his believability work its way into any conclusion on your part about the would be assain? THink on it the other way. What possible motive would Britian have to make any of this up?

Neil Osborne, Shady Side, USA/Maryland

Brazil wants to arrest him too. (Stated today).

ian, Cork,

Finally, our old nemesis is back! Once again we "dance into the fire". Someone, please call miss Moneypenny and leave a message for James from an old friend....The games afoot.

Asking an old KGB man to change is like asking VP Dick Cheney to go solar.

Mike Hermsen, Omaha, Nebraska/U.S.A.

Anybody who believes that Russia is not a totalitarian state is living in a dream world. The name has changed but the power brokers behind the scene remain the same. That fact that Putin, a high ranking KGB agent is in power attests to who really runs Russia today. I wonder if Yeltsin died of natural causes? Do a internet study on Yamantau and explain to me how an impoverish country can afford to build a complex such as this. Also if you are interested, read the book "New Lies for Old". It was written in the eighties and tells us about what is happening in Russia today.

Norman, Watkin, USA, OH

I'm shocked.... Shocked!

DeeAnn Simpson, Okla City, OK, USA

Litvinenko was murdered for being a dissident. There's no room for spin on that. There's too limited an access to the polonium-210 to suggest anything other than Russian Govt involvement, right? Too much public interest in his care to fabricate his poison. Luckily for the world, Litvinenko lived long enough to tell us some valuable information about Why...

So Why now doubt the Brits or Americans on their supposed agendas in all this? What sense does that make, except to further confuse the reality of what's still occurring in Russia. Blair doesn't assassinate dissidents for having differing opinions on policy, nor does Bush. If the latter did, Hollywood would have become our newest nuclear testing site by now.

Stewart, Bedford, TX / USA

To D, Tbilisi: Good point on 1917 - the same year Russia fell in a German subsidized revolution. Sad that your view are extremely biased, since Stalin (Dzhugashvilli), Beria, Shevernadze don't sound very Russian to me. Each is Georgian and each played their part during the Soviet years - don't single out the Russians - they were victims as well.

paul, portland, oregon / usa

Ben,

You're way off base on your theory that the left/democrats are all about freedom of the states, individual rights etc.... The liberals are all about disempowering the individual and making society dependent on a central government. Welfare, Unions, Social Security, Medicare, the gov't/public school system are all basically attempts to empower the central gov't. @ the expense of the individual which is what Marxist/Leninism promotes. Supporting free enterprise, capitalism, private ownership of firearms are all basic tenets of the Republican position and are pro-democracy

Beckett, Washington, DC

88 murdered journalists since Putin came to power without single prosecution, let alone conviction! This is Russian style diplomacy by other means!

Stuart Dragon, Brooklyn, NY

I think it is unwise to make broad statements that blame the Russian people for the corruption of a few politicians. I lived in the region for ten years and the vast majority of Russians/ Ukrainians etc... want a better future for their families and their country. They should be pitied and encouraged not criticized.

Robert , lexington, USA/ SC

To BOB, Somerville, NJ:

It was Aleksandr Isaevich Solzhenitsyn's "The Gulag Archipelago". The KGB did unspeakable things to the author and makes waterboarding seem like tickling in comparison.

Awkins, Johnson City, NY

Boris Berezovsky is a liar and cheat. I have no doubt he staged this "murder plot" to stain Vladimir Putin (again).
Boris Berezovsky is accused of tax evation, money laundering and has publicly stated he plans a violent coup to overthrow the democratically elected Russian government. Ahmed Zakaev the Chechen rebel is accused of plotting terrorism and murder of Russian officials. These are serious crimes but these men are given safe haven in Britain even though Russia has asked for their extradition.
How ridiculous of the British government to believe they can ignore Russia's requests and yet seriously expect Russia to honor theirs?

mike s, u.s.a,

Pete in Austrialia. I challenge you to go be a political dissident in Putin's Russia. It is interesting that about a dozen journalists in Russia who have been critical of Putin are now all dead. Nobody knows what happens to any of them. Better yet, go be a Russian journalist who criticizes Putin.

Dave Collins, Tucson, AZ

Hey people in UK and rest of Europe, learn to read between the lines, open your eyes and see the truth: what can be more stupid for Putin than killing Berezovsky after all this noise around Litvinenko? Dont you think there are more simple and sophisticated ways of killing anybody tnan poisoning with Pollonium, especially for professionals? Wo after all needs Berezovsky? Don't you see this is somebody playing a long play where we all are just a spectators? What is the purpose of the play, to shape people's mind in some definite way? What are people's opinions in Europe and US being prepared for?

Today's world is not as simple anymore. What claims it is white, turns black, whay is claimed to be black sometimes appears white, remember that.
Just have your own vision and opinion over all what is going on around and do not allow anybody to manipulate your mind in their way.

Nikolay Solovyov, Moscow, Russia

There appears to be no attempt to even approach reaching for the moral highgound on this Berezovsky saga. The man is without scrupples. His allegations baseless. British authorities would neither confirm or deny Berezovsky's allegations; This from the Washington Post:

""Scotland Yard issued a statement that did not mention Berezovsky. It said a man was arrested in London on June 21 on "suspicion of conspiracy to murder," was released without charges two days later and was turned over to the immigration service. "We are not elaborating further." It was a ruse, an exploited opportunity of an arrest of a suspect to ferment hosility between the UK and Russia.

The UK is possessed with what Alexander Pope summed up in his epic poem The Study of Mankind: "Evil is a monster of such frightful mein; needs to hated but to be seen; but seen to oft, familiar with its face; we first pity, then endure and then embrace."

You are embracing the evil that is Boris Berezovsky.

Brian Doan, Burlington, VT USA

Putin and his spin doctors have achieved exactly what they wanted with Mr. D from Reykjavik and many others in the West and Russia. They succeeded making our leadership look as they are just as corrupt and hipocritical as they are or even more so. Thus they deflect damage to their image abroad and weaken their democratic enemies. They truly learned Lenin's lesson of the use of the "useful bourgeois idiot in the West" well and are taking it to a whole new level.
My advice: Go live in Russia for a while, try abide by the law and speak your mind freely and see the "law"-enforcement agencies and government bureaucrats operate. Then come back to your comfortable country in the West and tell me you still believe the spin. The Russian government has utter contempt for human rights and life, democracy and its own people. We have to live with this truth at least as long as Putin and his lot are in power.

0source, london, UK

It is right for the UK to have expelled Russian diplomats if this is the behavior Putin's government condones on foreign soil, let alone on Russian soil. That the Russian's threatened bi-lateral co-operation with the UK on counter-terrorism as a result of the expulsions underscores their poor commitment to international cooperation on counter-terrorism, and quite possibly might point in the direction of Russia as a co-sponsor of terror, given its strong ties with Tehran.

Thomas Lane, Rockaway, USA

"I think the motto of the Left is to go against whatever human decency and democracy stands for.
Mr Kennedy, Kennedyville, MD"

What left are you talking about....Do you think the Russian govt is left. Are you comparing the russian govt to our left in the US. You dont make any sense. The left tend to be democrats, freedom of the states, individual rights etc....The right are republicans, strong republic, central government etc.....
Russia has more in common with the right than the left....

Ben Kulo, brooklyn, ny

Come on! Do you really believe in this story that Putin wants to kill Berezovky? But who is Berezovsky? What kind of danger can he present to the President of Russia? Berezovsky has a ZERO support here in Russia because everybody knows he is a thief and a liar. The whole story has much greater effect in the West. Somebody on the top there is playing big games. And one more time, we cannot extradict Lugovoy under the Constitution of Russia, it is directly prohibited. That's very easy - Putin will not be successively elected for the third term and the Russian citizen will not be extraticted to a foreign state.

Vitaly Orlov, Moscow, Russia

Interessting that Britain gives so much attention and coverage to a thief, wanted in several countries. The credibility of Mr. Berezovsky tends towards zero. So we dig out umbrella-KGB stories, the third man, U2 and Tu95 flights, anything goes to woe against Russia these days. Practical results: the 'assassin' "was questioned for two days but there was insufficient evidence to proceed to a prosecution". Gimme a break!

Joachim Kappert, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal

Why did they let the suspect go if they had enough evidence to prove that he was going to attempt an assassination attempt?

alice, Moscow,

Mr Berezovsky's claims still bear the hallmarks of a conspiracy theory, at least for me.

His claim is that the same people are behind the successful murder of Litvinenko and the unsuccessful attempts on his own life. This requires us to believe that someone in possession of a weapon which was guaranteed 100% effective, and not being looked for by anyone, but _which could only be used once_ sent a competent assassin to use this weapon on a pawn and then sent an incompetent hit man with just a gun to kill the real thorn in the side.

Common sense suggests that a far more likely and less baroque explanation is that these attempts do indeed originate from different people.

Of course the fact that you are paranoid does not mean that they are not after you, and of course there are lots of dirty tricks on all sides of Russian power struggles, but frankly, the more Mr Barezovsky opens his mouth, the less sense seems to come out of it.

Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK

Whatever the rights and wrongs of the issues with Russia, the UK is bound to lose in any escalation. Russia is pretty much immune to any damage the UK could do it, but not the other way round. Russia has already given UK investment in Russian oil a haircut and more of that kind of thing could easily take place. I suspect the UK thinks it's a bigger boy on the block than it is.

Hal, Tucson, USA

You can take the boy out of the KGB, but you can't take the KGB out of the boy.

MJ, San Diego, CA

I am stunned that a former KGB officer would sanction such things.

Pete , Ishpeming, Michigan, USA

Here we go again. Poor Brits! First they refuge to wanted Russian criminals, then they assert charges against the Russian government which they have not really shown any evidence to back up, and yet more hearsay. It just doesn't end does it? The whinging Brits and yanks! Nothing the Russians have done comes even close to what the British and Americans have themselves done and continue to do.

pete, Brisbane, Australia

I hope its not one of the usual regional destabilisation tactic used by the US and UK in the Middle East to have easy access to oil. There's hardly any oil left in the Middle East so US and UK move their destabilisation tactic to Russia. How can the Middle East be under our thumb when they carry the key of our society; Oil.

Andrew Stewart, London, UK

Russian leaders are not right. Neither are libs.

Ted, Portland, Oregon

"the Left" and Communism are the same animal. There is no difference here in America between our "Left" and Marxism-Leninism. Putin is former KGB. A tiger does not change its stripes.

nightstalker, aurora, Colorado, USA

Berezovsky is happy to admit he has spent $300-$400 million funding groups opposed to Putin. What would be HMGs response to a British national taken under the wing of a disapproving middle eastern country and spending that sort of money here in the UK to groups actively opposing the government.? A cynic might think that our spooks might be involved in helping to stop the irritation and should anything untoward happen to him there no doubt would be a collective cheer. Whatever the governments motives for the current spat it strikes me that they are making far more waves than they do for ordinary UK citizens who get into difficulties in foreign countries.

mike gee, bournemouth, uk

Polonium 210 is not easy to come by. People that make A-bombs use it for pit triggers.

Putin, the Russian government and specifically the FSB are clearly on the hook.

Dugald A. Taylor, SIBLEY, Missouri/USA

Mark of Naperville, IL is clearly ignorant of the way the Brits granted amnesty to a lot of people who have baggage from Eastern Europe and elsewhere. Clearly this genius never heard about the Bulgarian assassins who killed somebody in London with a poison tipped umbrella in the late 1970's or early 1980's . Political assasinations have occurred on London soil before. The Russians are up to no good. Fortunately this is Russia, not the Soviet Union. Despite energy revenue, Russia has far fewer assets than the Evil Empire.

Alex Boyle, Bronxville, USA

It sounds more like than Putin has been taking whatever Stalin was on and reintroduce the KGB's tradition of assassinating dissidents. Does anyone remember Markov or Trotsky? Why does everyone blame everything on the US? I forget the guy's name but he wrote the Gulang "Archielago", the KGB tormented the crap outta him for years.

BOB, Somerville, NJ

Mark from Naperville. Sound like you're siding with the Russians on this one. You need to come spend a couple of years over here in their backyard and watch their hijinx up close. Might prove to be very enlightening for you.

D, Tbilisi, Georgia

Just another way to demonize Russia and its political elite. From prospective of justice, I see no distinction between political leaders... if Putin is to be regarded as criminal and monster, what possible one could say about Blair and c0o?!?!? Good luck to you all!

Bane D, Reykjavik,

I think the motto of the Left is to go against whatever human decency and democracy stands for.

Mr Kennedy, Kennedyville, MD

Sounds like the US and UK are putting pressure on Russia to back off from its support of Iran. My view is this is most likely all part of a deal with Iran to play fair with a settlement in Iraq.. and to that I say... Good LUCK to us all.

Mark, Naperville, IL