Russian ambassador to London accused Britain of freezing diplomatic contacts with the Russian Federation

The Russian Ambassador to London Alexander Yakovenko accused the British side of freezing political ties between the two countries in connection with the events in Syria and Ukraine. In an interview with The Times , published on Monday, October 26, the head of the Russian diplomatic mission said that "culture is the only area that we have left."

"Almost all political contacts were sharply cut off at the initiative of Britain, there is no political dialogue between the leaders," Yakovenko said. He added that stagnation is also observed at the level of ministries. “This began with a conflict in Syria, but it was especially felt after the Ukrainian crisis,” the diplomat explained in an interview, which is published by Inopressa.ru .

Yakovenko also noted that a week of the previously high -ranking employee of the British Foreign Ministry refused him to provide Russia with intelligence on the positions of the Islamic State (prohibited on the territory of the Russian Federation) in Syria.

"The sites for discussing trade and economic cooperation, where mutual interests were discussed, were frozen, scientific relations were cut off, culture is the only field that we have left," Yakovenko said.

According to the head of the Russian diplomatic mission, the embassy was forced to reduce the state in connection with the refusal of the British side to issue a visa to Russian diplomats.

Yakovenko also noted that the deterioration of relations between countries is the merit of conservatives. "The manifesto of the Conservative Party says that Russia is a danger to the UK, that Russia is a threat, this word was used, Russia was put on one step with IG," the ambassador said.

According to the ambassador, the next deterioration of relations occurred during his recent meeting with the political director of Forin Office Simon Giss when the head of the Russian diplomatic mission applied two requests. One of them concerned help in determining the goals of attacks on the positions of IG, and the second - to establish contact with the "free Syrian army" for the sake of a more effective struggle with IG. The British side refused to both of these requests.

In addition, Yakovenko said that Britain allowed the Jihadists IS to strengthen their position in Syria in order to overthrow Assad.

At the same time, cultural ties managed to maintain - last year the British Museum temporarily handed over to the Hermitage one of the Elgin Marble - part of the famous collection of ancient Greek sculpture. The London Museum of Science currently presents a collection of Soviet space aircraft and other artifacts.