'Immoral and blasphemous': Russia rages over banning Queen's funeral

Created: 09/15/2022, 21:30

Queen Elizabeth II and Russian President Vladimir Putin © Fiona Hanson/PA Pool/AP/dpa

No Russian representative will be present at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral service.

The Kremlin then reacted angrily and criticized the decision.

Moscow - Moscow has complained about London's "immoral and blasphemous" decision not to invite a representative of Russia to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

The British government is trying to "use the national tragedy that has touched the hearts of millions of people around the world" for "geopolitical purposes, to settle scores with our country," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. on Thursday.

Queen's funeral service: Russia rumbles against London

This attempt is "deeply immoral" and "blasphemous" because it damages the memory of Elizabeth II, Zakharova criticized.

She accused London of using the Russian military operation in Ukraine as a "pretext" to exclude Russia from the memorial service.

Elizabeth II died last Thursday at the age of 96 at her Scottish residence in Balmoral.

The funeral service for the Queen with state guests from all over the world will take place on Monday in Westminster Abbey.

Invited guests include more than a hundred queens, kings and other heads of state.

Russia, Belarus, North Korea and Myanmar did not receive an invitation.

Russia and Great Britain: The situation is tense

Relations between Russia and Great Britain have been extremely strained for years.

The poisoning of the former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England in 2018 caused tensions in particular. England is also one of the biggest supporters of Ukraine in the escalating Ukraine conflict.