-- What do you expect in terms of consequences from the Russian-British conflict over Andrei Lugovoi? It is said that bilateral cooperation in the war on international terrorism may be suspended but our countries have never been exactly an example of cooperativeness. We refer to the Muslims living in Britain, the British to the Chechens.

-- As for expulsion of diplomats, it is traditional practice. Despite what British media are screaming, this isn't a Cold War or anything even remotely close. The Americans do expel Israeli diplomats, but these two countries remain allies.

-- Foreign Secretary David Miliband is clearly a hard-liner with regard to Russia. Why is that?

-- Alexander Litvinenko's murder was a shock. Londoners are scared because it happened right in the center of their city. That is why the Foreign Office is taking such an uncompromising stand. British civil servants do care what the voters think, you know. All the same, I believe that insisting that Russia amend its Constitution was stupid. In fact, we aren't exactly lily-white either. Moscow has been asking for Berezovsky for years now, but London always denies his extradition - on the same pretext, by the way. Because of the law.

-- If you were in Miliband's shoes, what would you do to resolve the crisis?

-- I'd arrange a discreet meeting with our Russian counterparts, and say: "Guys, we're all in this together. We do have incriminating evidence, and you have your Constitution to observe. So we'll be stuck here unless a solution presents itself."

-- The Russian Prosecutor General's Office claims that the British have never presented proof of Lugovoi's guilt.

-- I'm nevertheless convinced that our Crown Prosecution Service has all the evidence it need, or it would have never made any such claims. We know Litvinenko was poisoned with a substance that is not readily available. It is something produced by special factories only, not something you can buy at the local pharmacy.

-- Who do you think murdered Litvinenko?

-- This is my personal opinion, all right? First, it was not a professional hitman. A professional would have done better. He'd have used a dose guaranteed to kill Litvinenko on the spot. As it was, however, Litvinenko lasted long enough to leave all these traces our investigators would later discover. Second, British analysts' claims that the murder was arranged by the Kremlin should be dismissed, I think. I don't think Putin was involved.

After all, consider who Putin is and who Litvinenko was. Litvinenko wasn't worth it, particularly in the light of the political fallout from his death.

-- What is your opinion of Berezovsky's claims that attempts on his life were organized?

-- He has been saying it all his life: I'm in danger, the Kremlin is after me... Were it not for the statement from the Home Office, I'd have never taken his words at face value.But British police did second his claims.

-- Do you think this row between London and Moscow will last?

-- In fact, the conflict is not as serious as it is believed to be. Tension will abate in a couple of months. We have half a million Russians living in Britain. There are regular flights between London and Moscow. Britain is the largest foreign
investor in Russia. Too many forces want the relations back to their normal state. There will be no Cold War, if you ask me.