(ATR) Russia has lashed out at Boris Johnson comparing Vladimir Putin’s promotion of the FIFA World Cup to Adolf Hitler using the 1936 Olympics for Nazi propaganda.
The outspoken British foreign secretary on Wednesday escalated tensions between the UK and the Kremlin following the poisoning of a former Russian double agent on English soil. He suggested the Russian president would "glory" in this summer's World Cup, likening it to Hitler’s Germany hosting the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.
Johnson told a committee of MPs he agreed with the assertion from one member, "the comparison with 1936 is certainly right".
Today, Russia blasted Johnson through three separate channels.
Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called it "an utterly disgusting statement".
"It is unworthy of a foreign minister of any country. It goes without saying that it is insulting and impermissible," Peskov was quoted by the TASS news agency.
Vyacheslav Volodin, a speaker for the Russian parliament’s lower house, was quoted by the news agency saying: "British politicians have stooped to detestable behavior."
He said Johnson’s statement was "really obnoxious and is inappropriate for people of his rank".
Moscow's ambassador to Britain also criticized Johnson at a press conference in London Thursday.
"I am authorized to say that Moscow considers this kind of statement made under the level of foreign secretary ... unacceptable and totally irresponsible," Alexander Yakovenko was quoted by Sky News.
"The British Government is free to take a decision about its participation in the World Cup.
"But nobody has the right to insult the Russian people, who defeated Nazism and lost more than 25 million people, by comparing our country to Nazi Germany."
Former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia remain critically ill in hospital after being poisoned with the nerve agent novichok on March 4, an attack the British government blames on Russia.
Russia’s reaction underlined that with less than three months until the World Cup, the war of words between the UK and the Kremlin shows no sign of abating.
Last week, British prime Minister Theresa May had said the UK government and royal family would not be represented at the tournament.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich yesterday weighed in with his comments against the British establishment.
"I believe that our colleagues and partners are only punishing themselves and all of this is senseless," Dvorkovich, who chairs the Russia 2018 World Cup organizing committee was quoted by TASS.
"If some officials refuse coming here, it is their personal business. The history shows that boycotts never led to something good. All national teams want to play and football fans want to be here. We will imply maximum efforts to see that everyone is extremely satisfied with the world championship."
The World Cup finals run from June 14 to July 15, taking place in 11 host cities.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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