February 9, 2011 By Citizen M

Luke Harding: What’s Being Said

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The Luke Harding story is all over the papers today, with various sources discussing the possible reasons for his deportation from Russia.  Here’s a summary of what’s being said.  
British Government Response:
In a video posted by the BBC, British Foreign Office Minister David Lidington says that the British government ‘deplores‘ Harding’s treatment, said that Lavrov’s initial response was that he didn’t know why Harding had been deported, and insisted that Harding was fully accredited as a journalist.  He also makes reference to ‘human rights‘ and ‘media freedom‘.  
The Guardian: Following a threat that the British government would revoke an invitation to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is due to visit next week, the Russian Foreign Ministry insisted that Harding would be able to return to Russia ‘subject to resolving issues related to his media accreditation’.