MOSCOW, November 2 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's foreign minister and his British counterpart reiterated on Monday their opposing positions on the extradition from Russia of the chief suspect in a high-profile London murder, and moved on to patching up strained ties between the countries.
Speaking at a news conference following talks with David Miliband, Sergei Lavrov said once again that the extradition of Andrei Lugovoi was impossible under Russian law.
"Our position has not changed," Lavrov said. "I believe our British colleagues understand their demands that we amend our Constitution are absolutely unrealistic."
Miliband told the news conference earlier that London would continue to seek Lugovoi's extradition, adding however that it should not affect political ties between the two countries.
British-Russian relations have been frosty since the diplomatic fallout following the death of Russian security defector Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006. Russia's refusal to extradite the suspect led to tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats.
Miliband arrived in Moscow on Sunday, on the first visit by a British foreign secretary in five years, and met with Russian officials in an effort to heal the rift in relations.
"This series of meetings is a chance to add depth and drive to our relationship," Miliband told Lavrov at the start of their talks on Monday.
He later dismissed Lavrov's accusations that London had not provided enough evidence against former Kremlin bodyguard and now businessman Lugovoi. He said British security services had undertaken a major investigation using every opportunity for international cooperation.
London accused Lugovoi of poisoning Litvinenko with a rare radioactive isotope. Litvinenko's associates in London said the murder was orchestrated by Moscow. Russian officials denied the charge.
Russia has its own complaints over extradition practices, as Britain has consistently refused to extradite several of Russian fugitives living in London. Relations have also been strained over last year's war with Georgia, the activities of the British Council in Russia, and the management dispute at the TNK-BP oil joint venture.
Lugovoi, who has repeatedly denied involvement in the poisoning, said later on Monday London's refusal to try the case in Russia proves it has no evidence.
Britain's judiciary system "is afraid that the true criminals will be revealed if the case is tried in Russia," he said, adding that dozens of cases against Russians, who committed crimes abroad, are considered in Russia every year, which is a routine practice.
Lugovoi, 42, was elected a member of parliament in 2007.
