Putin in London: invitation to tatami

Vladimir Putin, winner of the black belt in judo, visited the Olympic London on August 2. The last time in the British Isles he was 7 years ago

This was even before the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, but after the disagreement with the charismatic British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who once friendly called Putin to his native Scotland. Then the Anti-Michal-Fiscal Gordon Brown came to Dauning Street, who did not even have to meet: “The Litvinenko case” ruined the relations of Moscow and London for years, political contacts rushed to zero. After that, the modernizer Medvedev, who stood on the Kremlin throne, tried to breathe a fresh stream into them. True, without much success, except for his own performance-in April 2009 at the London School of Economics. Putin found that the best way to make peace with the country, without which the Russian elite does not think of its existence, is judo. Yes, and Prime Minister David Cameron, whom they first met in the fall of 2011 in Moscow, they say he liked it.

Vladimir Putin congratulates Tagira Khaibulaeva (right), who took first place in the final judo competitions.

Putin had the opportunity to come to London on July 31, when everyone was waiting for the victories of the Russian judoka Mansur Isaev over Japanese Ricky Nakaya, which happened. But Putin arrived here on August 2, when Briton James Austin, a two -time silver medalist of the European Cup, fell into the likely rivals of the Russian heavyweight Tagira Khaibullaeva in the final battle. Moreover, the chances of the Russian were obviously evaluated below (Khaibulaev, in the end, won “gold” in front of Putin, defeating the Mongol Naydan). The very rare case when Putin was not afraid to see Russia, "raised from his knees," again on his knees. Nevertheless, the main meaning of the trip was different.

The Kremlin in every possible way advertised the Olympic part of the Putin visit program-the final competitions of the judo-gang. Whereas, Dauning Street periodically came reminders: judo, of course, is an important thing, but before the Russian president will come to us.

Putin was punctual, which is extremely rare with him: at exactly 13.30 in London his motorcade arrived at the Cameron residence. He arrived under the whistle and the cries of the Pussy Riot groups that were waiting for him here. On the eve of the mayor of London, Boris Johnson personally promised the leader of the international human rights movement "Speak louder!" Andrei Sidelnikov, who will definitely ask Prime Minister Cameron to touch on this topic at a meeting with Putin, given the huge resonance, which caused the trial in the Khamovniki court in the British creative environment. On the day of Putin’s arrival in London, twelve British rock cognitions turned to him with an appeal to ensure a fair trial of the group members. Prior to this, the singers Sting and Peter Gabriel, director Terry Giliam, writer Stephen Fry and others gave their voice in support of Pussy Riot, and others.

But in the course of 45-minute negotiations, Cameron, judging by Putin’s rather and complacency, who arrived at judo competitions in the company of the British Prime Minister, did not affect the fate of Pussy Riot during the conversation. There was another task for him: to try to convince Putin to support the next resolution of the UN Security Council in Syria, which Russia and China fail one after another with the help of a veto right. Because another such opportunity in the vacation August will not be presented anymore.

Did he succeed? On this score, the opinions of the British commentators were divided. Some focus on “obvious discrepancies” in the views. Others insist that progress is still there: they say, the very fact is that Putin and Cameron came to the competition together, suggests that a compromise is possible. Otherwise, Cameron would have referred to “excessive employment”, which had happened before in such cases. In the end, an unofficial visit, the protocol in this case is a nominal thing.

Moscow is ready to bargain in Syria - this is the meaning of a commander, published after negotiations: “To instruct ministers of foreign affairs to give an impulse to search for mutually acceptable decisions.” This means that Sergey Lavrov and Alexander Hayig will meet in the near future.

One way or another, a long cooling in the political relations of the two countries, apparently, is coming to an end. This does not mean that Moscow and London are ready to abandon mutual claims for their “Litvinenko case” who quarreled them. This does not mean that the deputies of the British parliament will suddenly take and, for the sake of Moscow, will be forgotten by the idea of ​​their own “Magnitsky List”. And Boris Berezovsky, who hurriedly left London before Putin’s arrival, probably on the advice of Scotland Yard, is unlikely to be afraid of extradition to Russia. But regular political contacts will be restored in the near future.

Putin made it clear to Cameron and all of England: a real reconciliation between Moscow and London can only occur thanks to him. Or not happen. And the other, in principle, is not given.

Photo: Reuters, RIA "Novosti"