Supporters of Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin celebrate his victory (AFP, Alexey Sazonov)
LONDON — Britain will work with Russian president-elect Vladimir Putin to overcome differences between the two countries, Prime Minister David Cameron said Monday after Putin’s controversial election victory.
Cameron said in a telephone conversation with Putin that he “looked forward to working with Mr Putin to overcome the obstacles in the relationship between Britain and Russia and build deeper political and trade links.”
The two leaders agreed on the importance of building a stronger relationship, but recognised that the countries remained opposed on many issues, according to a readout of the conversation released by Cameron’s office.
“The prime minister and Mr Putin also discussed Syria and the need for united international action to bring an end to the violence and prevent the situation deteriorating into civil war,” added the statement.
Police on Monday arrested dozens of Russians protesting Putin’s crushing victory in presidential elections that the opposition denounced as illegitimate and international monitors said were “skewed”.
Western powers reacted warily to the prospect of Putin returning after a May inauguration to the Kremlin for a six-year term from his current job as premier, urging a full investigation into the reports of violations.
Some 20,000 people turned out in Pushkin Square in central Moscow chanting “Russia Yes! Putin No!” as hundreds of helmeted riot police stood by on guard, an AFP correspondent said.
Britain has conducted frosty relations with Moscow after it refused a request to extradite Andrei Lugovoi, the key suspect in the 2006 murder of ex-agent turned dissident Alexander Litvinenko in London.
Britain last week issued a warrant for a second Russian man, Dmitry Kovtun, one of the last people to see Litvinenko in London before he fell ill.
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