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‘The English are obsessed with spying’

KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA
Today's lead story focuses on Russo-American relations and the possibility that Bush will launch a war on Iran. In the small space given to Litvinenko/Lugovoi, America's support for the UK is invoked several times. London correspondent Alexander Penzev quotes several British sources to suggest that ordinary Britons do not support the extradition of Lugovoi.

NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA
Dr Natalya Leshenko, a consultant with Global Insight in London, tells the paper she thinks further sanctions on trade are unlikely. "There is a serious lobby in London determined to continue business with Russia. Above all, they want to retain the possibility of investment in Russia."

NOVAYA GAZETA
Formerly home to the murdered journalist Anna Politkovskaya. This is more about a media war of words than anything, the paper argues, and there will be few practical consequences: "Britain is Russia's biggest investor - and there is no point in slaughtering the hen which lays the golden eggs."

VIV GROSKOP on today’s media reaction from Moscow on the expulsion of Russian diplomats from London

GAZETA.RU (ONLINE)
'Here come the Russophobes,' reads the headline. An article by Vasily Sergeev suggests the British are obsessed with spying: "The Guardian reports that there are 30 Russian spies in London." The article concludes: "It is impossible to say where this 'diplomatic war' will lead, but it can only succeed in worsening the relationship between Moscow and Gordon Brown."

ZHIZN
The Putin-supporting best-selling tabloid (modelled on the Sun, complete with Page 3 girls) ignores the story. Instead its political coverage consists of a eulogy headlined 'Putin's Magical Powers'. It reveals that the President has chosen a 'sacred site' for an Olympic village to be constructed near Sochi, 900km south of Moscow, for the newly announced 2014 Winter Olympics - a huge victory for Russia.

KOMMERSANT
The respected business daily also leads with the Olympic story: "The Olympic victory has given Putin a huge ratings boost." Sixty-nine per cent of Russians now believe Putin should stand for a (constitutionally illegal) third term - an increase of six per cent on a poll taken in early July.

FIRST POSTED JULY 17, 2007

News & Comment: News & Politics